Black and Native American Nature Poetry
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Questions and Answers

What does Ecotopia suggest about the left liberal multiculturalist vision of American freedom?

  • It is an excellent representation of American values.
  • It can operate as an alibi for U.S. imperialism. (correct)
  • It promotes racial harmony without issues.
  • It emphasizes individualistic freedoms above all.

    • Ecotopia believes that self-segregation can completely solve racial issues within its society.

    False

    Describe the character Marissa as perceived in the text.

    Marissa is seen as a ravishing presence, wild and incomprehensible, with hypnotic powers.

    Ecotopia critiques the idea that a society can be free of a 'race problem' through __________.

    <p>self-segregation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following descriptions with their associated elements in Ecotopia:

    <p>Self-segregation = Allows distancing from 'race problem' Marissa = Hypnotic presence Ecotopian shrine = A bed of needles and charms Racial politics = Critique of multiculturalist vision</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'will-to-power' refer to in the context of Ecotopia?

    <p>The drive for U.S. global dominance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The narrator feels that time stands still when Marissa is present.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of charms are mentioned in the shrine described in Ecotopia?

    <p>Charms and pendants made of bone, teeth, and feathers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The narrator experiences profound emotional stimulation in the presence of __________.

    <p>Marissa</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts from Ecotopia with their meanings:

    <p>Racial separatism = A radical approach to racial identity Self-determination = The right to govern one's community Ecotopian experience = Transformative and deep interactions Hypnotic powers = Ability to captivate and alter perception</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the speaker in Gerald Barrax's poem imply about Black men and leisure?

    <p>They are denied the luxury of leisure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The majority of African American poems are recognized for their commitment to nature.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'humanly whole' suggest about the experience of Black men?

    <p>They have maintained their humanity despite oppression.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The poem references 'Rain Maker' as a name for ____.

    <p>God</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following concepts with their descriptions:

    <p>Black Nature Poetry = Poetic expressions of African American experiences connected with nature Historical Context = Background that shapes understanding of literary works Political Poems = Literature that comments on social injustice or political issues Pastoral Literature = Works that depict rural life and the beauty of nature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the view presented, what is often missing in the recognition of African American poetry?

    <p>Nature-related themes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The phrase 'we are slaves again' emphasizes the loss of connection to seasons and meanings.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Name two crops mentioned in Gerald Barrax's poem.

    <p>Cane and cotton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Camille Dungy states that the definition of nature poetry is often limited to poems that address the ____ or the wild.

    <p>pastoral</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following poets to their thematic focus:

    <p>Gerald Barrax = Connection of African American identity to nature Camille Dungy = Exploration of African American experiences in nature poetry Langston Hughes = Urban life and the African American experience Gwendolyn Brooks = Social commentary and Black life in America</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How are Native people stereotypically identified in white U.S. American culture?

    <p>Over-identified with Nature qua Wilderness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What emotion does the oak tree express in Dunbar's poem?

    <p>Grief</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Black writers are primarily recognized for their connections to Nature rather than urban settings.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar reflects a sense of dread associated with nature.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the crucial balance Native writers seek regarding their identity, land, and modern life?

    <p>They seek to assert their existence as modern, urban people without invalidating their nativeness or romanticizing their connection to land.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the phrase 'I feel the rope against my bark' metaphorically represent?

    <p>The pain of a hanging victim and the suffering of the tree.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The oak tree speaks of a '___________ victim's pains.'

    <p>guiltless</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Black eco-poets often find themselves being over-identified with _____ culture and places, to the point that 'urban' operates as a euphemism for Black.

    <p>urban</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their associated descriptions.

    <p>Dunbar's 'The Haunted Oak' = Reflection on nature's pain and human suffering The cop in the narrative = An entomologist familiar with insect life Cicadas = Insects known for their loud mating calls The texture of the city = A metaphor for decay and complexity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Over-identified with Nature = Common stereotype of Native people in U.S. Urban culture = Common stereotype for Black writers Gunalchéesh = A thank you gesture in Tlingit culture Euphemism for Black = Term often used for urban settings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Ravi Howard, how does the term 'urban' affect the perception of Black history?

    <p>It leads to the belief that Black history began only in cities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which insect is NOT mentioned in the text?

    <p>Bees</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ravi Howard believes that the terms urban and black became interchangeable without any consequences.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The poem and the narrative both celebrate the beauty of nature.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major theme connects Dunbar's poem and the narrative involving the entomologist?

    <p>The theme of suffering and the connection between humans and nature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one example of food mentioned in Nora Marks Dauenhauer's poem related to native traditions?

    <p>Salmon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The 'terrible laughter' of ________ signifies decay within the city.

    <p>termites</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the poem, the narrator suggests to shoo away _____ from the salmon.

    <p>mosquitoes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following authors with their works:

    <p>Nora Marks Dauenhauer = How to Make Good Baked Salmon from the River Ravi Howard = We Are Not Strangers Here, Black Nature Camille Dungy = Editor of Black Nature anthology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What comparison is made about the cop in the narrative?

    <p>He had once been an entomologist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Black and Native American Nature Poetry

    • Native people are over-identified with Nature qua Wilderness in white U.S. American culture
    • Black people are under-identified with Nature qua Wilderness, often stereotyped as "urban"

    Ecological Themes in Native Writing

    • Native writers often assert their existence as modern urban people, in ways that don't invalidate their connection to land
    • Avoid playing into the stereotype of having a connection to land that romanticizes or idealizes them out of existence.

    Ecological Poetry Positions

    • Writers need to assert their existence as modern, urban people without invalidating their history or connection to land
    • Avoid perpetuating simplistic, romanticized ideas about their connection to land.

    Black Writers and Ecology

    • Black writers may face the opposite problem: being over-identified with urban culture, making it hard to be heard as a Black eco-poet.
    • Urban may be a euphemism for Black, suggesting a history in cities, removed from nature.

    Black Nature Poetry

    • Collections incorporate historicized and politicized treatments of the natural world
    • Often viewed (by readers) as political poems, historical poems, or protest poems, rather than nature poems.

    Examples of Poetry

    • "To Waste at Trees" by Gerald Barrax, Sr. - Explores the theme of Black men building a nation, contrasting with the idea of having leisure time to appreciate nature.
    • "The Haunted Oak" by Paul Laurence Dunbar - Explores themes of a guiltless victim's pain and the curse of a guiltless man.

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    Black and Native American Nature Poetry PDF

    Description

    Explore the complexities of Black and Native American identities through their relationships with nature and ecology. This quiz delves into themes of urbanization, modernity, and the challenge of stereotypes in their poetry. Understand how these writers assert their existence while engaging with their heritage and contemporary realities.

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