American Literature S2023 Test 4
Section 1: "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth
This text is a reconstruction of Sojourner Truth's remarks delivered at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention
in May of 1851.
1 Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out
of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the
North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon.
But what's all this here talking about?
2 That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best
place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or
gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I
have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me!
And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man-when I
could get it-and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off
to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?
intellect: intelligence
out of kilter: out of harmony or balance
'twixt: between
3 Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience
whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes
rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to
let me have my little half measure full?
B. Indifferent.
C. Passionate.
D. Playful.
4 Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause
Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a
woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.
no man could head me: no man
could do their job better than her
5 If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together
ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the
men better let them.
obliged: grateful
6
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.
1.
PART A: Which word best describes the tone of this passage? (R14, DOK2)
A. Carefree.
2. PART B: Which TWO quotations from the passage best support the answer to Part A? (R14, DOK2)
A. "Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter" (paragraph 1).
B. "That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages..." (paragraph 2).
C. "I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns..." (paragraph 3).
D. "Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it?" (paragraph 3).
E. "And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them" (paragraph 5).
A. Despite her best intentions, white women cannot understand her plight.
B. Women are still treated as inferior citizens regardless of their natural abilities.
pint vs. quart: a quart
contains 2 pints
3. What evidence does the speaker present to rebut the counterargument in paragraph 2 that women are fragile and must
be coddled by society? (RIS, DOK2)
4. What is the most likely purpose for the appeal in paragraph 2? (R19, DOK2)
A. To demonstrate the growing need for community activism.
B. To provoke an emotional response to the speaker's resentment.
C. Women played a far more important role in religious history than many believe.
D. As an enslaved woman, she did not receive the same kind of treatment as white women.
C. To explain effects of the speaker's past experiences.
D. To encourage support for more traditional values.