- 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) Yazoo City, Mississippi
B) Jackson, Mississippi
C) Memphis, Tennessee
D) New Orleans, Louisiana
- 2. In what city did Morris become the editor of a prominent magazine?
A) Boston
B) Chicago
C) New York City
D) Washington D.C.
- 3. Which magazine did Willie Morris become the editor of?
A) The New Yorker
B) Time
C) The Atlantic
D) Harper's Magazine
- 4. What is a major theme of the memoir?
A) Alien invasion
B) Medieval history
C) The search for identity
D) Corporate espionage
- 5. Morris's memoir is often cited as a defining text of what American region?
A) New England
B) The American South
C) The Midwest
D) The Pacific Northwest
- 6. What significant social issue does Morris grapple with regarding his Southern upbringing?
A) Immigration policy
B) Racial segregation
C) Women's suffrage
D) Prohibition
- 7. What literary award did 'North Toward Home' win?
A) The Pulitzer Prize
B) The National Book Award
C) The PEN/Faulkner Award
D) The Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship Award
- 8. Besides an editor, what was Morris's other primary profession?
A) Writer
B) Lawyer
C) Engineer
D) Doctor
- 9. Morris's writing about his childhood is often described as:
A) Humorous and slapstick
B) Nostalgic and evocative
C) Cold and factual
D) Technical and scientific
- 10. The memoir is structured primarily:
A) Chronologically
B) Alphabetically
C) By fictional characters
D) Through reverse timeline
- 11. What did Morris edit at the University of Texas?
A) The law review
B) The student newspaper, The Daily Texan
C) The yearbook
D) A literary journal
- 12. Morris's writing style in the memoir is best described as:
A) Reflective and descriptive
B) Experimental and chaotic
C) Terse and minimalistic
D) Academic and dry
- 13. As editor of Harper's, Morris was known for publishing:
A) Exclusively fiction
B) Scientific research papers
C) Financial advice columns
D) New journalism and controversial pieces
- 14. Morris's memoir had a significant impact on:
A) Culinary arts
B) Southern literature
C) Modern dance
D) The tech industry
- 15. What literary figure was a major influence on Morris?
A) Stephen King
B) William Faulkner
C) Ernest Hemingway
D) J.K. Rowling
- 16. The memoir was first published in what decade?
A) 1940s
B) 1960s
C) 1980s
D) 2000s
- 17. What genre is 'North Toward Home' primarily considered?
A) Historical Fiction
B) Memoir
C) Mystery
D) Science Fiction
- 18. What position did Morris eventually hold at Harper's Magazine?
A) Copy Editor
B) Editor-in-Chief
C) Publisher
D) Staff Writer
- 19. The book is largely about Morris's sense of what?
A) Wealth
B) Adventure
C) Fame
D) Displacement
- 20. What is the name of Morris's well-known dog that he wrote about?
A) Pete
B) Skip
C) Lassie
D) Old Yeller
- 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) Cambridge University
C) University of Edinburgh
D) Oxford University
- 23. Morris's account of his life is also a portrait of:
A) The rise of television
B) The American space program
C) A changing America in the mid-20th century
D) The European literary scene
- 24. Morris's time at Oxford was funded by the:
A) Houghton Mifflin Fellowship
B) Fulbright Program
C) Rhodes Scholarship
D) G.I. Bill
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