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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, according to the second poem in the "Village Tapes" section, was hungry for steel?

2. What, according to the fifteenth poem in the "Village Tapes" section, would happen if "the writer can write & the farmer can sow"?

3. What did Morrison say was "hanging on the wing of the raven" in the first poem of the section titled "Drywater"?

4. What, in the poem beginning "The Endless quest a vigil", state would be missed?

5. In the poem "Blessings", where did the ancient wisdom travel from to greet "us"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Morrison have the principal of the school holding his nose? ("Jamaica")

2. In the poem that began "Blessings", what is Morrison asking readers to do?

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

4. Who did Morrison describe in the poem "Jamaica"?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Based upon Morrison's poetry, what did you learn about the life of rock stars in the 1970's? What were they faced with? How did they live? Can you understand where the stereo-type of girls/sex/excess for musicians began? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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