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. What magazine had an article "measuring Richard Manuel for a straight-jacket" (62)?
2. With whom is Carmen walking in the song "To Kingdom Come"?
3. In "The Band," what is Marcus' "sentimental favorite" American motto?
4. What does Marcus say each performer he will discuss in the book attempts to do?
5. What type of music did Robert Johnson sing?
Short Essay Questions
1. What imagery does Robert Johnson often use in his music? What do these images convey?
2. Just before "The Righteous Land," Marcus quotes from "We Can Talk About It Now." The storyteller in the song tells "there's no need to slave. The whip . . . is in the grave" (53). What type of imagery does this line have and what does it mean?
3. Who are Harmonica Frank and Robert Johnson? Why are they included in the book?
4. According to Marcus in "The Band," why is the story of Virgil Cane in "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" appealing to all Americans?
5. 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?
6. In "The Band," what happens when the Band plays in San Francisco after releasing their first two albums?
7. What is the relationship between the rock 'n' roll artist and audience according to Greil Marcus in the prologue?
8. In "The Band," why do the other members of the Band become known as Robbie Robertson's foil?
9. In "The Band," what is significant about a group according to Marcus in "Crossing the Border"?
10. What type of music was Sam Phillips attempting to find and why?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Marcus stakes a claim that Elvis Presley is one of a kind and could not be easily replaced. What is unique about Elvis Presley? How does he succeed where other failed? Why is Elvis able to stay at the top when other more seasoned artists fall off the charts and out of mind after getting their break?
Essay Topic 2
Religion or the lack of religion pervades the music of most of the artists in Mystery Train. Identify what religious images are found in songs by the Band and/or Elvis Presley. What do the images mean? Are they being used literally or metaphorically? For what purpose.
Essay Topic 3
Freedom is an American theme explored in rock 'n' roll. Choose one artist and using their lyrics identify their concept of freedom (or the lack of it). Does the artist's music reflect the American idea of freedom?
|
This section contains 1,325 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
