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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 Morrison say was built up again? (Poem 1-"Jamaica")

2. How did Morrison describe the "couplings out in the night", in the fourth poem from the section titled "Jamaica"?

3. What did Morrison name the boxing match at the end of the poem? (Poem 2-"Jamaica")

4. In the three-line poem, poem eighteen "Village Tapes", what did the people describe a race toward?

5. What did Morrison describe "like a white funereal butterfly barge"? (Poem 5- "Jamaica")

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What did Morrison state that children and men feared? ("Jamaica")

5. What did the poem that began "Silver shaken in the gloom" speak about?

6. What did Morrison say needed to be done about the situation that the pilots were in? (Poem 2-"Village Tapes")

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

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

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

10. In the first poem of the section titled "Drywater", how did Morrison describe the night?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison, many time, brings into the poetry references to drugs and alcohol. Discuss at least three different references and the impact that the reference had on Morrison and his life. Where did Morrison bring up drugs/alcohol? How did this reference speak to the theme of the poem? Why was this reference important to what Morrison wanted to say? Was the reference positive or negative? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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