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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 "Faulkner and Women," whom does Morrison say she imagines when as a reader when she is writing?
(a) African Americans.
(b) Literary critics.
(c) Everyone.
(d) Herself.

2. In "Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," Morrison posits that the "Lone" Ranger is "lone" because of what?
(a) His race.
(b) Hiding his face behind a mask.
(c) His gender.
(d) The presence of Tonto.

3. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison compares the restriction of the canon by traditional Western standards to what?
(a) A corset.
(b) A jail cell.
(c) A lobotomy.
(d) A glass house.

4. In "The Source of Self-Regard," Morrison writes about not wanting to turn her readers into voyeurs. In this context, the word "voyeur" should be defined how?
(a) Someone who is more confident in their own knowledge than they should be.
(b) Someone who gets pleasure from watching something that is private or painful for others.
(c) Someone whose passion outweighs their judgment.
(d) Someone afraid of encountering what is new or different.

5. John Gardner's novel Grendel uses the original story as a source for what?
(a) A feminist interpretation of Grendel's mother.
(b) A meditation on the nature of heroism.
(c) A psychological study of motherhood.
(d) A retelling from Grendel's point of view.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Goodbye to All That," to what other group's struggle does Morrison compare the struggle of Black writers to claim territory that is both identity-specific and identity-neutral?

2. In "Tribute to Romare Bearden," Morrison says that early scholarship on creating a canon of Black art tended to focus on what?

3. Who is Margaret Garner?

4. In "Goodbye to All That," Morrison uses examples of literary partings between Black and white women to demonstrate what?

5. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison introduces Rogin's commentary on Moby Dick for what purpose?

Short Essay Questions

1. In “Rememory," Morrison describes her writing process using memory and explains how it is similar to a thematic and narrative element in one of her books. What is her process, and which book's narrative does she see it reflected in.

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

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

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

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

6. What point is Morrison trying to illustrate when she brings up the origins of Ancient Greece in “Unspeakable Things Unspoken"?

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

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

9. In “Gertrude Stein and the Difference She Makes," Morrison says that the two responses to chaos are "renaming" and "violence." What does she mean by this?

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

(see the answer keys)

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