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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. What does O'Connor say the serious writer is interested in?

2. Granville Hicks reviewed a novel by whom?

3. What author said his aim as a fiction writer is to render the highest possible justice to the visible universe?

4. What does O'Connor refer to as a "complete dramatic action"?

5. What does O'Connor say is a word that sounds good in anyone's mouth that no book jacket can do without?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does O'Connor describe grotesque writing?

2. What is the gist of an editorial written to Life magazine regarding writers?

3. What does O'Connor say about the Manicheans in "The Nature and Aim of Fiction"?

4. Why does O'Connor believe that Christian writers will best be able to discern the grotesque?

5. Why does O'Connor believe Southern writers are anguished?

6. Why does O'Connor think some people pretend to be unaffected by the peacocks?

7. What observations does O'Connor make about the student manuscripts she read?

8. What makes Georgia writers different from writers from New York or Hollywood According to O'Connor?

9. How does O'Connor feel about people trying to analyze her work?

10. How does O'Connor feel about the peahens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does O'Connor mean when she says that the greatest dramas occur when there is salvation or the loss of a soul? How do these plot devices create interesting stories for the reader? What about the reader who does not believe in salvation or sin? Do you think nonbelievers can fully enjoy fiction written with a religious slant?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the idea that Catholic writers use violence as a way to get their point across. What does O'Connor feel might happen if a Catholic writer goes too far in using shocking techniques to make the secular reader understand? What is her advice to the Catholic writer who considers indulging in pornography or sentimentality in their writing?

Essay Topic 3

How does she propose that teachers teach literature? How does she go about proposing this? What is her tone? Does she flesh out her ideas enough for teachers to put them into practice? Do you think her suggestions would work in practice? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

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