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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Race Matters," Morrison says that when she was younger she found something in writing that she could not find in life itself--what was it?

2. In "Race Matters," Morrison says that tow of the thematic concerns of her work are race and what?

3. In "A Race in Mind," Morrison asks for more thoughtful work from what group?

4. Morrison's reading of fiction about Africa written by non-African writers reminded her of what part of her childhood?

5. In "The Individual Artist," what does Morrison find interesting about the feud between literary critics from different schools of criticism?

Short Essay Questions

1. In her "Sarah Lawrence Commencement Address,” how does Morrison define dreaming and why does she think it is important?

2. In “The Foreigner’s Home,” what point is Morrison making with her discussion of The Radiance of the King?

3. In “The Nobel Lecture in Literature," Morrison explains why oppressive language is a problem: what effects does she claim it has?

4. In “Harlem on My Mind," what does Morrison point to as the causes of the failure of the New York Metropolitan Museum's 1968 exhibit on Harlem?

5. In “The Individual Artist," what is the paradox that Morrison says artists face?

6. In her speech “Cinderella’s Stepsisters," what is the purpose of the allusion to Cinderella?

7. In “Women, Race, and Memory” how does Morrison describe the way "non-aligned" women are viewed by feminists and anti-feminists, and how do non-aligned women view them?

8. In “The Nobel Lecture in Literature," what is the story that Morrison uses to frame her speech?

9. In “The Dead of September 11,” Morrison alludes to a famous speech. What speech does she allude to and what is the purpose of this allusion?

10. In “Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.," what are the things that Morrison says Dr. King believed in?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In “The Nobel Lecture in Literature,” Morrison uses a folktale to structure her lecture. Explain how she interprets and then reinterprets this folktale.

Essay Topic 2

In “Moral Inhabitants,” Morrison lists several “Great Men” from American history and describes their views on race. Explain how this list functions in the larger context of “Moral Inhabitants.” What is the purpose of the list, and how does it accomplish its aims?

Essay Topic 3

In “Women, Race, and Memory,” Morrison evokes the figure of Harriet Tubman. Who is Harriet Tubman, and what associations does Morrison hope to create by telling an anecdote about her?

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