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

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

3. According to Morrison in the first poem in "Jamaica", what did grown men fear?

4. What were the "great beasts" suffering from in the eleventh poem from the "Village Tapes" section?

5. What did the principal think was in the building? (Poem 4-"Jamaica")

Short Essay Questions

1. In the second poem of the "Village Tapes" section, Morrison claimed that pilots are a problem. Why?

2. In the first poem from "The Village Tapes" section, what state is the world in?

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

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

5. What is happening in the poem "Cassandra at the Well"?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison claimed in the Self-Interview that he always wanted to write, but he was afraid of not being good at it. Do you think that Morrison succeeded at writing poetry, or that he (as he thought) failed? Why do you believe this? What helped him to succeed? Where did he fail? Support your answers.

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 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?

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