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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 is the main character in the song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"?
2. What type of music did Harmonica Frank sing?
3. What song of Elvis Presley's is mentioned as having the "young hold on freedom" and a "touch of fear" reminiscent to Robert Johnson's?
4. What album does Marcus say belongs to Richard Manuel in "The Band?
5. According to the Prologue, why are Harmonica Frank and Robert Johnson included in Mystery Train?
Short Essay Questions
1. According to Marcus in "The Band," how are Harmonica Frank and Robert Johnson relevant to The Band?
2. In the prologue, what four artists does Marcus say he will write about and why these performers?
3. 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?
4. In "The Band," what happens when the Band plays in San Francisco after releasing their first two albums?
5. How does Greil Marcus define "artist" in the prologue?
6. In "Robert Johnson -1938," what common theme does Robert Johnson's music have with music by Eric Clapton?
7. 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?
8. According to Marcus in the introduction to "The Band," what message did The Band send to its audience?
9. Why might "The Band" be subtitled "Pilgrim's Progress"?
10. What imagery does Robert Johnson often use in his music? What do these images convey?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
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 2
Many people believe that Elvis Presley stole his sound from black blues artists but others believe that while the sound is similar it is entirely his own. Marcus claims that because Elvis made the sound his own and changed it, that he does not owe anyone anything. In an essay explore this predicament and decide whether Elvis "Stole the Blues" (152).
Essay Topic 3
The Band used a lot of symbolism in their songs. Focusing on one or two of the songs discussed in Mystery Train, write an essay examining the symbols used in the song. How does this use of symbolism affect the song? How does it affect your understanding of that song?
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This section contains 1,323 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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