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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who were described as having an "insane free chummy cackle"? (Poem 1-"Drywater")

2. What was ending at the schoolyard in the second poem in the "Drywater" section?

3. What made wine? (Poem 15- "Village Tapes")

4. What did Morrison compare the beak of the vulture to? (Poem 4-"Jamaica")

5. What was behind the nursery door? (Poem 5-"Jamaica")

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Morrison describe the vultures in the poem from the section "Jamaica"?

2. What did Morrison say America did to him? ("Jamaica")

3. In the second poem from the "Drywater" section, what did Morrison say was happening in the schoolyard?

4. Why did Morrison ask for forgiveness from Blacks? (Poem 3- "Villages Tapes")

5. In the poem from the section "Jamaica", what did Morrison describe was happening?

6. Why did Morrison claim that "I deserve this" at the end of the final poem from the "Drywater" section?

7. What is happening in the poem "Cassandra at the Well"?

8. In the ninth poem from the "Village Tapes" section, who is Morrison looking for?

9. In the fourth poem of the "Drywater" section, what did Morrison claim he was not?

10. What did Morrison say mated? ("Drywater")

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rarely did Morrison title his poetry. Discuss how this lack of standard titling either helped or hindered your understanding of the book. Did this lack of apparent labeling confuse you as a reader or solidify what was known about Morrison as a writer? How did the lack of titling affect your understanding?

Essay Topic 2

In a few of the poems, Morrison described relationships that he had with women. Discuss the different relationships that Morrison described in the poetry. What was the relationship based upon? How did you know this? How did Morrison feel about the relationship? About the woman? Use textual evidence to support your findings.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of metaphors in Morrison's poetry. Find at least three metaphors that Morrison used in his poetry and explain the comparison that he made. What was Morrison comparing? What did the comparison lead you to believe about Morrison's thoughts on the object he described? Why does the comparison work? How does the comparison create confusion? Why do you think Morrison used the specific comparison?

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