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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 8: Part II--God’s Language, including the essays “The Source of Self-Regard” through “Invisible Ink: Reading the Writing and Writing the Reading”.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Black Matter(s)," what aspect of American slavery does Morrison claim makes its impact so long-lasting in American culture?
(a) The breakup of slave families.
(b) Laws against teaching slaves to read and write.
(c) The skin color of the slaves.
(d) The religion of slave-owners.

2. According to Morrison, how does fascism arise?
(a) As a series of small, orderly steps.
(b) When minority groups gain power over the majority.
(c) By insisting that all people be treated identically.
(d) With sudden revolution.

3. In "Unspeakable Things Unspoken," Morrison introduces Rogin's commentary on Moby Dick for what purpose?
(a) So that she can rebut Rogin's reading of Moby Dick.
(b) As an example of how a canonical piece can be enriched by reading for the Black presence.
(c) To highlight the importance of Black scholarship.
(d) As part of her explication of the timeline of Western literature.

4. 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?
(a) Love.
(b) Justice.
(c) Immortality.
(d) Sovereignty.

5. "The Trouble with Paradise" is mostly about what?
(a) The plot of Morrison's novel Paradise.
(b) Characterization difficulties Morrison had while writing Paradise.
(c) The language needed to describe paradise.
(d) The difference between older and more modern ideas of paradise.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Individual Artist," why does Morrison say that the romantic vision of the artist is a "Procrustean bed"?

2. In "Hard, True, and Lasting," Morrison says that what feeling is the first one writers feel when they begin to write?

3. In "Cinderella's Stepsisters," Morrison says that we must use freedom to do what?

4. In "Moral Inhabitants," what is the list of American leaders meant to demonstrate?

5. Morrison claims that after WWII, the language used to discuss war became more what?

(see the answer key)

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