I, too, Am America: The Harlem Renaissance and Cultural Rebellion — Test
Question 12 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from Zora Neale Hurston’s “John Redding Goes to Sea.” "Cose you allus tries tuh know mo' than me, but Ah ain't so ign'rant. Ah knows a heap mahself. Many and many's the people been drove outa their senses by conjuration, or rid tuh deat' by witches." Why does Zora Neale Hurston use non-academic English in this excerpt?
Answer
A
to portray the dialect of Black Americans during the period
B
to provide a historical context in which the events occur
C
to reflect the mixed emotions John’s mother has about her child
D
to emphasize the relationship between John and his parents
Explanation
Hurston uses non-academic English to represent the characters’ spoken dialect, including features such as “Ah” for “I” and “tuh” for “to.” This helps portray the dialect of Black Americans during the period. The excerpt’s language does not mainly establish a historical setting or describe John’s mother’s feelings.
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.