Prose MCQ Review: 'Recitatif' by Toni Morrison

These flashcards cover key concepts from the prose review of 'Recitatif' by Toni Morrison, focusing on themes, symbolism, characterization, and narrative techniques.

What type of narration is used in 'Recitatif' by Toni Morrison?

First-person limited narration.

What childhood activity does Roberta excel in?

Jacks.

How does the author depict racial ambiguity in the characters?

By withholding clear racial identifiers for Twyla and Roberta.

What do the switching beds symbolize in the story?

Instability, lack of identity, and absence of belonging.

What does the shelter represent in 'Recitatif'?

Social marginalization and instability, but also shared vulnerability.

How does Morrison challenge racial assumptions in the narrative?

By forcing readers to rely on stereotypes to guess the characters' races.

Why is the character 'Big Bozo' significant?

Represents institutional authority and emotional detachment.

What does the character's nickname 'Big Bozo' reflect?

The children's perspective of the impersonal system.

What broader themes are explored through the setting of the shelter?

Abandonment, poverty, and childhood loneliness.

What is the tone of 'Recitatif'?

Reflective, subtle, and observational.

How does Twyla describe the conditions in the shelter compared to public assumptions?

Describes it as not entirely unpleasant.

What does the term 'salt and pepper' refer to in the context of the story?

Racial difference made visible by others, perceived by the girls.

What does 'The Wizard of Oz' symbolize in the narrative?

Innocence, childhood fantasy, and emotional escape from harsh reality.

Why does Twyla mention her mother in the shelter?

To express her feelings about being in a strange environment.

What does Roberta's understanding of Twyla's situation reveal?

Her ability to empathize with Twyla despite their differences.

What lesson does Morrison impart regarding racial perceptions?

Race is constructed by perception rather than fact.

What happens when a loud buzzer sounds in the shelter?

It signals the call for dinner.

How do the children react to being placed in the shelter?

Initially with discomfort and uncertainty.

What does the relationship between Twyla and Roberta signify in the story?

The complexities of race, childhood friendship, and shared experiences.

What type of experiences do the children in the shelter share?

Vulnerability and the challenges of their childhoods.

What can be inferred about societal views on shelters from the story?

They are often seen as places of pity, but this view is challenged by the characters' experiences.