In the poem “When Malindy Sings,” Paul Laurence Dunbar uses irony and caricature to “signify” on white assumptions about African Americans. What does Henry Louis Gate’s term “signify” mean ?

Related Mcqs:

1. In Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “When Malindy Sings,” what kind of music is Malindy singing ?

   A. Cakewalk tunes.
   B. Gospel.
   C. Jazz.
   D. Blues.

2. The mask in Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poem, “We Wear the Mask,” represents_____________?

   A. The persona that the characters show the world.
   B. The carved masks of African gods.
   C. Characters from the Bible.
   D. Who the narrator wishes to be.

3. Some critics argue that the use of dialect by such authors as Paul Laurence Dunbar and Charles Chesnutt did all of the following except_______________?

   A. Strengthened the African American’s place in the world of literature
   B. Perpetuated stereotypes
   C. Allowed African American authors to sell their works more widely to white audiences
   D. Showed that African Americans couldn’t speak properly.

4. In Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “A Cabin Tale,” which character is a trickster figure?

   A. Weasel.
   B. Bear.
   C. The farmer.
   D. The young boy.

5. What does the term “angel in the house” signify ?

   A. The idea that women should advise men
   B. The idea that the Victorian woman represents “the new woman”
   C. The idea that women are pure and morally superior to men
   D. The idea that confinement in the home may induce madness

6. According to Henry Louis Gates, Jr., reconstructing black people into the “New Negro” has been a matter of_______________?

   A. Redefining black people in terms of a presence, not an absence.
   B. Working against the existing racist stereotypes.
   C. A struggle ongoing since 1619.
   D. All of the above

7. In the play, “Henry V,” what country does Henry wish to conquer ?

   A. England
   B. Spain
   C. France
   D. Denmark

8. Spirituals like “Go Down Moses” were important to African Americans because_______________?

   A. They showed that a hero would deliver them from slavery.
   B. They gave hope that God would deliver them from slavery.
   C. They helped them do their work faster.
   D. They were based on African songs.

9. Which author relied on complex characters and dialect to overturn American stereotypes about Southern African Americans ?

   A. William Wells Brown
   B. Richard Wright
   C. Charles Chesnutt
   D. Booker T. Washington

10. Which of the following best describes the types of imagery used in Louis Zukofsky’s poem, “A: Seventh Movement: There Are Different Techniques” ?

    A. Historic and contemporary imagery
    B. Kabalistic imagery
    C. Nationalist imagery
    D. Everyday imagery