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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Grendel and His Mother," Morrison notes the significance of what characteristic of Grendel's mother?
(a) Her lack of speech.
(b) Her size.
(c) Her capacity for forgiveness.
(d) Her intelligence.

2. In "Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," what element does Morrison say is an aspect of the European American response to chaos lacking in the indigenous response?
(a) Pragmatism.
(b) Disrespect.
(c) Meditation.
(d) Wonder.

3. In "Tribute to Romare Bearden," Morrison says that there was once a false division of art into what two categories?
(a) Universal and transcendent.
(b) Authentic and corrective.
(c) Political and beautiful.
(d) Representative and uplifting.

4. In "Hard, True, and Lasting," Morrison says that she can tolerate being alienated from the dominant culture because she knows what?
(a) She will grow through surrendering to another culture.
(b) Strangers cannot touch the things she loves.
(c) The modern world is dangerous and corrupt.
(d) Her isolation will cause her to understand better what is valuable in Black culture.

5. In "The Writer Before the Page," Morrison compares a successful text to what?
(a) A map.
(b) A historical narrative.
(c) A shattered mirror.
(d) A guidebook.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "On Beloved," Morrison says that what field of study drew her to the subject matter of Beloved?

2. In "Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," Morrison proposes that the third response to chaos is what?

3. In "Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," Morrison says that she was told that the two responses to chaos are what?

4. In "Introduction to Peter Sellars," Morrison says that Sellars wanted what kind of introduction?

5. In "God's Language," what does Morrison say seems more true the longer she writes?

Short Essay Questions

1. In “James Baldwin Eulogy,” what does Morrison describe as Baldwin's contribution to language?

2. In “Tribute to Romare Bearden," Morrison praises Bearden's work as a dialogue between artists; how does she see his work impacting her own?

3. In “Unspeakable Things Unspoken," what does Morrison say she is trying to evoke with the image of nightshade in the beginning of Sula?

4. In "On Beloved," Morrison discusses Sula and Beloved in the context of feminism; what is the relationship of these two texts to feminism?

5. In “Academic Whispers," what does Morrison say used to annoy her about being asked to speak about racism?

6. In “Introduction of Peter Sellars," what are the main points of Morrison's praise for Peter Sellars as an artist?

7. According to “The Writer Before the Page," why does Morrison use allusions to folktales in her writing?

8. In “The Trouble with Paradise," what does Morrison mean when she says that fiction writers have to stare unblinking into the "realm of difference"?

9. In “Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," what confuses Morrison about Stein's portrayal of Rose?

10. What point is Morrison trying to illustrate when she brings up Moby Dick in “Unspeakable Things Unspoken"?

(see the answer keys)

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