- 1. North Toward Home by Willie Morris is a poignant memoir that captures the essence of the author's childhood and the profound sense of place that shaped his identity. Set in the backdrop of the small town of Yazoo City, Mississippi, the narrative takes readers on a nostalgic journey through the rich tapestry of southern life in the 1940s and 50s. Morris masterfully intertwines personal recollections with vivid descriptions of the landscape, culture, and characters that populated his youth. The book delves into themes of belonging, loss, and the bittersweet nature of memories, as he reflects on the values instilled in him by his family and the community. With a keen sense of storytelling, Morris evokes the sights, sounds, and scents of the Mississippi Delta, making it not just a memoir, but a love letter to the South. His exploration of the complexities of growing up in a segregated society, combined with his longing for home and the inevitable passage of time, resonates deeply with readers, inviting them to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and the places they hold dear.
Where did Willie Morris spend his childhood?
A) Jackson, Mississippi
B) New Orleans, Louisiana
C) Memphis, Tennessee
D) Yazoo City, Mississippi
- 2. In what city did Morris become the editor of a prominent magazine?
A) Chicago
B) New York City
C) Boston
D) Washington D.C.
- 3. Which magazine did Willie Morris become the editor of?
A) Harper's Magazine
B) The New Yorker
C) Time
D) The Atlantic
- 4. What is a major theme of the memoir?
A) Corporate espionage
B) Medieval history
C) The search for identity
D) Alien invasion
- 5. Morris's memoir is often cited as a defining text of what American region?
A) The Pacific Northwest
B) The Midwest
C) The American South
D) New England
- 6. What significant social issue does Morris grapple with regarding his Southern upbringing?
A) Women's suffrage
B) Racial segregation
C) Immigration policy
D) Prohibition
- 7. What literary award did 'North Toward Home' win?
A) The Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award
B) The Pulitzer Prize
C) The PEN/Faulkner Award
D) The National Book Award
- 8. Besides an editor, what was Morris's other primary profession?
A) Writer
B) Engineer
C) Lawyer
D) Doctor
- 9. Morris's writing about his childhood is often described as:
A) Technical and scientific
B) Nostalgic and evocative
C) Cold and factual
D) Humorous and slapstick
- 10. The memoir is structured primarily:
A) Chronologically
B) By fictional characters
C) Alphabetically
D) Through reverse timeline
- 11. What did Morris edit at the University of Texas?
A) The student newspaper, The Daily Texan
B) The law review
C) The yearbook
D) A literary journal
- 12. Morris's writing style in the memoir is best described as:
A) Terse and minimalistic
B) Experimental and chaotic
C) Academic and dry
D) Reflective and descriptive
- 13. As editor of Harper's, Morris was known for publishing:
A) New journalism and controversial pieces
B) Financial advice columns
C) Exclusively fiction
D) Scientific research papers
- 14. Morris's memoir had a significant impact on:
A) Modern dance
B) The tech industry
C) Culinary arts
D) Southern literature
- 15. What literary figure was a major influence on Morris?
A) Stephen King
B) Ernest Hemingway
C) William Faulkner
D) J.K. Rowling
- 16. The memoir was first published in what decade?
A) 1960s
B) 2000s
C) 1980s
D) 1940s
- 17. What genre is 'North Toward Home' primarily considered?
A) Mystery
B) Science Fiction
C) Historical Fiction
D) Memoir
- 18. What position did Morris eventually hold at Harper's Magazine?
A) Publisher
B) Copy Editor
C) Staff Writer
D) Editor-in-Chief
- 19. The book is largely about Morris's sense of what?
A) Fame
B) Wealth
C) Adventure
D) Displacement
- 20. What is the name of Morris's well-known dog that he wrote about?
A) Pete
B) Lassie
C) Old Yeller
D) Skip
- 21. Which university did Willie Morris attend as an undergraduate?
A) Harvard University
B) University of Mississippi
C) University of Texas at Austin
D) Yale University
- 22. Morris was a Rhodes Scholar, attending which university in England?
A) University of London
B) University of Edinburgh
C) Cambridge University
D) Oxford University
- 23. Morris's account of his life is also a portrait of:
A) The European literary scene
B) The rise of television
C) The American space program
D) A changing America in the mid-20th century
- 24. Morris's time at Oxford was funded by the:
A) G.I. Bill
B) Fulbright Program
C) Rhodes Scholarship
D) Houghton Mifflin Fellowship
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