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Joan Didion, On Morality

Joan Didion, On Morality

Read On Morality and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Then “submit” your work.

1. In what location is the author writing this essay?

Death Valley

Reno

Terre Haute, Indiana

Minneapolis

2. Which phrase best describes the Jayhawkers?

a group of bird hunters who turned on one another during a long hunting trip

participants in “The Mankato Massacre”

a group traveling through Death Valley whose members split up and died

a group caught in the mountains who resorted to cannibalism

3. According to Didion, “the most primitive level” of morality is

our loyalties to those we love.

doing as Jesus did.

the morality practiced by ancient tribes.

in fact, immoral.

4. Didion mistrusts those who define morality according to

their parents’ teachings.

historical events.

their conscience.

the law.

5. Didion insists that “we have no way of knowing”

whether our laws will be enforced.

what is “right” and what is “wrong.”

how our founding fathers might have responded to every moral crisis.

how Jesus might of responded to every moral crisis.