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Roger Rosenblatt ’s book Black Fiction,in attemptingto apply
literaryratherthansociopolitical criteria to its subject, successfully alters
the approach taken by mostprevious studies. As Rosenblatt notes, criticism of
Black writing has often served as apretextfor expounding on Black
history.Addison Gayle’s recent work, for example, judgesthe value of Black
fiction by overtly political standards, rating each work according tothe notions
of Black identity which it propounds.Although fictionassuredly springs from
politicalcircumstances ，its authors react tothose circumstances in ways other
than ideological, and talking about novels and storiesprimarilyas instrumentsof
ideologycircumvents much of the fictional enterprise.Rosenblatt ’s
literaryanalysisdisclosesaffinitiesand connections among works of Blackfiction
which solely political studies have overlooked or ignored. Writing acceptable
criticism ofBlack fiction, however, presupposes giving satisfactory answers to a
number of questions.First of all, is there a sufficient reason, other than the
facial identity of the authors, to group together works by Black authorsSecond,
how does Black fiction make itself distinct from other modern fiction with which
it islargely contemporaneous Rosenblatt shows that Black fiction constitutes a
distinct bodyof writingthat has an identifiable， coherent
literarytradition.Looking at novels writtenby Black over the last eighty years,
he discovers recurringconcerns and designs independentof chronology. These
structures are thematic, and they spring, not surprisingly, from thecentralfact
that the Black charactersin these novels exist in a predominantlywhite
culture,whether they try to conform to that culture or rebel against it.Black
Fictiondoes leave some aestheticquestions open. Rosenblatt ’s thematic
analysispermits considerable objectivity; he even explicitly states that it is
not his intentionto judge the merit of the various works D yet his reluctance
seems misplaced, especiallysince an attempt to appraise might have led to
interesting results. For instance, some ofthe novels appear to be
structurallydiffuse.Is this a defect,or are the authors workingout of, or trying
to forge, a different kind of aesthetic In addition, the style of someBlack
novels, like JeanToomey’s Cane, verges on expressionism or surrealism; does
thistechnique provide a counterpointto the prevalenttheme that portrays the fate
against whichBlack heroes are pitted,a theme usuallyconveyed by more
naturalisticmodes of expressionIn spite of such omissions, what Rosenblatt does
include in his discussion makes foran astute and worthwhile study. Black Fiction
surveys a wide variety of novels, bringingto our attention in the process some
fascinating and little-known works like James WeldonJohnson’s Autobiography of
an Ex-Colored Man. Its argument is tightly constructed, andits forthright, lucid
style exemplifies levelheaded and penetrating criticism.
1. The author of the text is primarily concerned with __________.
[A] Evaluating the soundness of a work of criticism.[B] Comparing various
critical approaches to a subject.
[C] Discussing the limitations of a particular kind of criticism.
[D] Summarizing the major points made in a work of criticism.
2. The author of the text believes that Black Fiction would have been
improved hadRosenblatt __________.
[A] Evaluated more carefully the ideological andhistoricalaspects of Black
fiction.
[B] Attempted to be more objective in his approach to novels and stories by
Blackauthors.
[C] Explorein greaterdetailthe recurrentthematicconcerns of Black
fictionthroughout its history.
[D] Assessed the relative literary merit of the novels he analyzes
thematically.
3.author ’s discussion of Black Fiction can be best described as
__________.
[A] Pedantic and contentious.
[B] Critical but admiring.
[C] Ironic and deprecating.
[D] Argumentative but unfocused.author of the text employs all of the
following in the discussion ofRosenblatt ’s
4.book EXCEPT： __________.
[A] Rhetorical questions.
[B] Specific examples.
[C] Comparison and contrast.
[D] Definition of terms.
5. The author of the text refers to James WeldonJohnson’s Autobiography of
anEx-Colored Man most probably in order to __________.
[A] point out affinitiesbetween Rosenblatt ’s method of thematic analysis and
earliercriticism.
[B] Clarify the point about expressionistic style made earlier in the
passage.
[C] Qualify the assessment ofRosenblatt ’s book made in the first paragraph
of thepassage.
[D] give a specific example of one of the accomplishments ofRosenblatt ’s
work.
