Gertrude Stein's Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas
48 Questions
2 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What does Bao's name mean?

  • Ocean
  • Wind
  • Wave
  • Storm (correct)

    • Which animal does Binh not understand the affection for?

  • Cat
  • Chihuahua (correct)
  • Goldfish
  • Poodle (correct)

    • How does Binh describe Toklas?

  • A sturdy woman with sharp features
  • A slender lady with elegant posture
  • An owl with a mustache and lively eyes (correct)
  • A middle-aged woman with a background in art

    • What role does Toklas play in her relationship with Stein?

    <p>The willing helper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What activity do Stein and Binh do together to bridge their language barrier?

    <p>Using an English-French dictionary</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Stein shift in her behavior towards Binh after some time?

    <p>From a supportive teacher to a regular collector employer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Binh think about the bowl of quinces when asked by Stein?

    <p>He shakes his head and walks out</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship dynamic between Stein and Toklas as described by Binh?

    <p>One is the star while the other is the helper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Binh imagine he is giving to Anh Minh?

    <p>A red packet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary reason for Binh going to sea?

    <p>His father threw him out</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Toklas mention about meals during the American lecture tour?

    <p>Oysters and honeydew will be served</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Binh compare his previous ocean travel experience to the upcoming trip with Stein and Toklas?

    <p>It was less luxurious</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What task does Toklas ask Binh to perform during the photo opportunity?

    <p>Sew a button onto Stein's shoe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Binh's sentiment toward the man he sees on the bridge in Paris?

    <p>He considers him a memory and a gift</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How long did Binh spend aboard ships before getting land access?

    <p>Three years, with only 40 nights on land</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What decision does Binh make about accompanying Stein and Toklas to America?

    <p>He always knew he wouldn't go to America</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin imply about the shared American history?

    <p>It is a history marked by suffering, including slavery.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does Baldwin feel that all Americans desire to distance themselves from their country?

    <p>They are ashamed of the historical injustices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What situation leads to Baldwin's arrest in Paris?

    <p>He is wrongfully associated with an American friend.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Baldwin describe his living situation upon moving to Paris?

    <p>He lives in a grim hotel with very limited resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin spend most of his time doing in Paris?

    <p>Consuming large amounts of coffee and alcohol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What perception does Baldwin have about the French institutions he encounters?

    <p>They are outdated and often cruel.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Baldwin's initial financial situation when he arrives in Paris?

    <p>$40 and unable to communicate in French.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What ultimately prompts Baldwin to visit the American he is associated with?

    <p>He seeks to help the American find better accommodation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin imply about the priest's message during Christmas mass in prison?

    <p>The priest is ineffective because the prison system contradicts his teachings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Baldwin's experience in Paris differ from his experiences in America?

    <p>He is treated equally in jail in Paris, unlike in America.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin suggest about the concept of equality in his title 'Equal in Paris'?

    <p>Being treated equally feels like a disadvantage in this context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin's statement about the French policeman's perception reflect?

    <p>Equality erases individuality and cultural identity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Ian Frazier's book 'Paradise Bronx' mainly explore?

    <p>The evolution of the Bronx through its history.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which significant event is highlighted in 'Paradise Bronx'?

    <p>The Bronx's role in the American Revolution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What theme does Frazier emphasize regarding Bronx history?

    <p>The impact of systemic neglect and destruction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What irony does Baldwin express about his treatment in the Parisian jail?

    <p>He feels ashamed to be treated like everyone else.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Anh Minh's letter reveal about Binh's father?

    <p>He has suffered a stroke.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Binh cope with the idea of his father's death?

    <p>By believing he is already dead.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant realization does Binh have at the photographer’s studio?

    <p>The man on the bridge is a known revolutionary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Binh feel about his mother’s death?

    <p>Relief that she is free from his father.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What item did Binh retrieve before the trip that caused him anxiety?

    <p>A stolen notebook.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Binh discover about Lattimore at the beginning of Chapter 23?

    <p>He left without informing Binh.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Binh write on a slip of paper during his journey on the ship?

    <p>Anh Minh's name.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Binh offer to the store clerk at the photography studio?

    <p>The photo of himself and Lattimore.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do some Americans feel about freedom when they experience it in Paris?

    <p>They feel overwhelmed and long for home.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin claim about American students who assimilate into French culture?

    <p>They maintain a superficial understanding of France.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What overall effect does Baldwin suggest American students experience regarding their own personalities?

    <p>They lose a sense of personal identity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What underlying theme does Baldwin explore in his chapter about American students in Paris?

    <p>The confusion between self-discovery and cultural assimilation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Baldwin characterize the reactions of some Americans to the freedom they find in Paris?

    <p>They run back to America out of fear.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Baldwin imply is necessary for the self-discovery journey of Americans in Paris?

    <p>An understanding of their unique cultural identities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What expectation do some Americans have of their experience in Paris according to Baldwin?

    <p>To discover aspects of America through a different lens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What common misconception does Baldwin highlight regarding American students' friendships in France?

    <p>Friendships do not deepen their understanding of French society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Gertrude Stein, The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas

    • The book, though titled as Alice B. Toklas's autobiography, is primarily Gertrude Stein's.
    • It details Stein's life in Paris.
    • Stein originally wrote the biography in six weeks.
    • It was commercially successful with average readers, but viewed as untruthful by one brother and lacking merit by Ernest Hemingway.
    • The text positions the work in the tradition of Virginia Woolf's Orlando.
    • The first two chapters focus on Alice B. Toklas's upbringing in San Francisco and her initial move to Paris.
    • Alice B. Toklas's life was, by her own account, pleasant but not always fulfilling.
    • She describes meeting Stein as a "genius."
    • She later became Stein's companion, typist, and curator of Stein's works.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    ENGL 3450 The City in Lit&Art Notes on Reading Condescened FINAL PDF Fall 2024

    Description

    Explore the unique narrative of Gertrude Stein's biography written in the voice of Alice B. Toklas. Discover the fascinating details of their life in Paris, the critical reception, and the influence of contemporary writers. This quiz delves into themes, characters, and significant events from the book.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser