Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. The song "We Can Talk About It Now" creates what kind of image?
2. How did Harmonica Frank get his name?
3. What does Marcus name the storyteller from The Band's lyrics?
4. Who said "I played rock and roll before I ever heard of Elvis Presley. I saw him in Memphis before he ever made a record"?
5. How many songs did Johnson record before he died?
Short Essay Questions
1. In "The Band," what happens when the Band plays in San Francisco after releasing their first two albums?
2. In the section entitled "The Weight" in "The Band," what does Dominique Robertson have to say about living in Woodstock? What does this say about community?
3. There are several dualisms that Marcus identifies the Band reflecting on in "The Righteous Land " section of "The Band." What are two of these dualisms and what aspect of America do they reflect?
4. Describe the example of an artist that Greil Marcus uses in the prologue. Who is an artist and why? Why are the other people in the example not artists?
5. According to Marcus in the introduction to "The Band," what message did The Band send to its audience?
6. What is the relationship between the rock 'n' roll artist and audience according to Greil Marcus in the prologue?
7. Who are Harmonica Frank and Robert Johnson? Why are they included in the book?
8. In "The Band," why do the other members of the Band become known as Robbie Robertson's foil?
9. In "Harmonica Frank - 1951," what exactly is the American spirit that Marcus believes Harmonica Frank brought to rock n' roll?
10. How does Greil Marcus define "artist" in the prologue?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Rock 'n' roll always has its ties to race and it both enriches the music and hinders it. Pick one artist who dealt with race issues in his music (any of the artists discussed in Mystery Train do). In an essay identify what the racial tensions of the time were and how they factored into the music.
Essay Topic 2
The Great Divide is a strong image used by the band and one that merited discussion by Greil Marcus in "The Band." In an essay examine why the Band would be drawn to this image. How is it metaphoric? What does it mean? How is it American?
Essay Topic 3
The Fall of Man Motif is about a man (or woman, but typically a man) who has everything he needs, but is so trapped by his desires that it is his undoing. Finally the man loses his home and or his soul. Several of the figures described by Greil Marcus in Mystery Train match this description. In an essay discuss two to three figures, their rise, their desire, and their undoing. Why does Marcus choose to discuss figures who go through this process? Is redemption possible?
|
This section contains 1,408 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
