Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches Quizzes

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches Quiz 1: Introduction – Transformation of Silence

1 Who authored the introduction to this book?

Audre Lorde

Nancy K. Bereano

Adrienne Rich

Robert Staples
2 What relationship does the introduction's writer bear to Audre Lorde?

Her wife

Her student

Her mentor

Her editor
3 What essay does the introduction's author reference, claiming it helped them explore their Jewish identity?

Man Child: A Black Lesbian Feminist's Response

The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House

Notes From a Trip to Russia

Grenada Revisited: An Interim Report
4 According to the introduction, what was the cause of Lorde's doubts when publishing "Sister, Outsider?"

She was nervous about how her speeches would come across on the page

She worried that the book would bring too much attention to her children and personal life

She disliked her editor and publisher

She thought of herself as a writer of poetry, not prose
5 Which theme of "Sister, Outsider" does the introduction primarily discuss?

Racism and Sexism

Homophobia

Wholeness

The Insularity of Academia
6 What region of the Soviet Union does Lorde describe in "Notes From a Trip to Russia?"

Uzbekistan

Tajikistan

Belarus

Ukraine
7 Which character does not appear in "Notes From a Trip to Russia?"

Helen

Oleg

Stanislav

Fikre
8 Which revelation about America shocks a stranger Lorde meets in the Soviet Union?

Public schools receive a low proportion of municipal budgets

Presidents are not elected by popular vote

Americans must pay for their own medical care

Black Americans are not treated equally
9 What conclusion does Lorde draw about Russian socialism and American capitalism?

Socialism is superior for changing systems, and capitalism for changing attitudes

Socialism is the only guaranteed cure for racism, sexism, and homophobia

Capitalism is inherently racist, while socialism is inherently anti-semitic

Socialism actually creates more inequality than capitalism
10 What holiday does Lorde reference when describing the appearance of Moscow's landscape?

Valentine's Day

Thanksgiving

Christmas

The Fourth of July
11 To which African city does Lorde compare Tashkent?

Accra

Marrakech

Lagos

Johannesburg
12 To which of the following things does Lorde compare poetry in "Poetry is Not a Luxury?"

A net

Water

Light

A coat
13 What does Lorde characterize as the "european mode" of looking at the world?

Evaluating morality through a Protestant framework

Thinking of life as a problem to be solved

Viewing children, women, and the elderly as superfluous

Valuing industry and urban growth over nature
14 What, in short, does Lorde believe is the most important job of poetry?

To give people from all backgrounds the chance to express themselves

To convey the experience of sublime emotion

To bridge the gap between emotion and rationality

To allow the subjugated to voice their concerns and demands
15 How does Lorde symbolize the forces and value systems that denigrate poetry?

As "white fathers"

As "misogynist melodies"

As "hungry lions"

As "capitalist dragons"
16 What does Lorde conclude about the conflict between ideas and feelings in "Poetry Is Not a Luxury?"

Women are taught to over-value feelings and never trained to understand ideas

Parents must help children nurture and recognize feelings even while introducing them to new ideas

There are no new ideas, but old ideas can be viewed through the lens of different feelings

Feelings are a superior way to access complicated truths
17 How does Lorde describe the "places of possibility" within people in "Poetry is Not a Luxury?"

Dark, ancient, and hidden

Soft, homelike, and warm

Electric, buzzing, and bright

Illuminated, fresh, and empty
18 What alternative perspective does Lorde suggest to replace the Cartesian "I think, therefore I am?"

I am, therefore I think

I think, therefore I reimagine

I write poetry, therefore I feel

I feel, therefore I can be free
19 Which frightening experience of Audre Lorde's prompted an epiphany, according to "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action?"

Her son being a victim of bullying

A car accident

Waiting to get a tumor removed

Her mother's death
20 Why, according to "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action," do most people choose not to voice their true feelings?

They are convinced that they do not have the mastery of language necessary to speak up

They selfishly value their own security and relaxation over correcting injustice

They believe that nobody will listen to them, especially if they are women

They fear that they will suffer consequences and might be unsafe if they speak out
21 Why, according to "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action," is speaking out always worthwhile?

You may find that listeners disagree with you, and can challenge your perspective

Everyone dies, regardless of whether they voice their opinions or not

You may find that your listeners agree with you and that you can work together

Voicing opinions is relatively easy, whereas staying silent is excruciatingly difficult
22 Lorde quotes her daughter in "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action." What does her daughter warn anger will do if left unexpressed?

"Poison you and make you sick"

"Set your whole house on fire"

"Eat you up"

"Punch you in the mouth from the inside"
23 What contradiction does Lorde identify concerning Black women and visibility?

Black women are rendered both hyper-visible and invisible by society

Black women are themselves rendered invisible by society, but have learned to see others with great clarity

Black women are good at courting visibility, but then punished for their popularity

Black women hate being visible, but find that they draw undue attention regardless
24 How does Lorde define Umoja, a principle associated with Kwanzaa?

Imagination

Self-determination

Collective responsibility

Unity
25 What does Lorde urge women who teach to do in "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action?"

Assign older books as well as contemporary ones

Avoid discussing whether or not writers assigned in class are feminist or not

Teach works written by people unlike themselves

Allow students to turn in creative as well as critical work

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