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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 is the name of O'Connor's posthumous book of stories?

2. Who wrote that the roots of the eye are in the heart?

3. What will always be a Catholic novel's center of meaning?

4. Who does O'Connor say South Boston belongs to?

5. What is it generally supposed that Catholic writers use their fiction to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does O'Connor say should be the result of the proper study of literature?

2. What does O'Connor say about being specific in her writing?

3. How does O'Connor respond to those who say that Catholics cannot be artists?

4. How does O'Connor say she believes fiction should be taught?

5. Why does O'Connor say the Protestant South is a good place for Catholic writers to write?

6. Why does O'Connor write powerfully, especially about God?

7. What does O'Connor say about her book when she reviews it for class?

8. What does O'Connor say about "The Foundling" written by Cardinal Spellman?

9. Why might a Catholic novelist feel angst about being both a Catholic and a fiction writer?

10. What does O'Connor say about absolutes in fiction, particularly religious fiction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore O'Connor's view of English teachers. What does O'Connor say their job is, in regards to helping students understand literature? Why does O'Connor say that English teachers are avoiding teaching English? What methods does she talk about that teachers use? What is the problem with these methods?

Essay Topic 2

Explore O'Connor's obsession with chickens and then peafowl. Discuss how her obsession for birds grows after the photographer comes to visit. Why do you think her obsession follows his visit? What feelings does O'Connor seem to have about the photographer's visit? Consider the fact that he never visits again. A spokesperson from each group should tell the class what the group talked about.

Essay Topic 3

What does O'Connor say about being labeled a Southern writer? Does she feel that it is beneficial to wear this label? What problems does she run into because she is labeled a Southern writer? Based on her tone, how does she seem to feel about how those writing in the South are perceived to always be writing about the South?

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This section contains 789 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample