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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. From the first poem in the section named "Jamaica", the hour of "what" ended?

2. Who was the "deaf witness on the bank" compared to? (Poem 4-"Drywater")

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

4. What strangled the cliffs in the East? (Poem 1- "Village Tapes")

5. What kind of tires did the people in the poem (Poem 2-"Village Tapes") ride on out of the airport?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the poem "Science of Night", whom is Morrison addressing?

2. What message did Morrison claim was being sent at the end of the fourth poem in the "Drywater" section?

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

4. What did Morrison claim that he had to leave? ("Jamaica")

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

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

7. Morrison described the appearance of the the inhabitants of the island. How did Morrison describe the appearance of the men and women? ("Jamaica")

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison was very influenced by Nietzsche. Nietzsche's main philosophy was based upon living in reality and the advancement of an individual's culture. Although Morrison was enamored and influenced by Nietzsche, he did not live in reality given his extensive drug and alcohol use. Therefore, how did Morrison try to align his life (poetry) with the philosophy of Nietzsche? What poems spoke to living in reality? Which poems spoke to advancing one's culture? Did Morrison's drug/alcohol use create a reality for him? Use textual evidence from the poems to support findings.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the separation of poetry throughout the book. How did the editor chose to section off the book? Was this consequential to the understanding of the book?

Essay Topic 3

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"?

(see the answer keys)

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