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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. What did the man, who died in the pool, float on? ("Ode to LA")

2. What city did Morrison ask the location of in "Ode to LA"?

3. What grade, in school, did Morrison write his first poem?

4. What were "sodden in silk"? ("Ode to LA")

5. Where did the satyr in "Ode to LA" leap to?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Morrison claim that an interview was a "crucial mental exercise"?

2. What did Morrison state that the "ancient ones" wanted? (In the poem that began "A vast and radiant beach & a cool")

3. What were the different ways that Morrison referred to Jones in "Ode to LA"?

4. Why did Morrison state that poetry meant so much to him?

5. What did Morrison ask of the bird of prey? (In the poem that began "Bird of prey, Bird of prey")

6. In the poem "Ode to LA", what did Morrison state was going to happen to Jones' body?

7. In the poem beginning "A man rakes leaves into", what happened as the smell of burning leaves filled the air?

8. In the poem "Power", what did Morrison claim that he could do? (Name three things).

9. How did Morrison, in "Ode to LA", state that Jones "went out"?

10. What did Morrison state happened to the angel man in the poem "Ode to LA"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison stated that he was very influenced by the image of the dead Indians on the side of the road. It is here where some may say Morrison became obsessed with death. Chose three of the poems whose themes speak to that of death. How did Morrison convey his feelings regarding death in the poem? How did he feel about the coming of death? Did he seem afraid or comforted with death in the poem?

Essay Topic 2

Morrison claimed that "real poetry doesn't say anything". Do you agree with his statement after reading his book? Why/Why not? Is Morrison's poetry "real"?

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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