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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 did Morrison say was drinking from the swimming pool? (Poem 4-"Jamaica")

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

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

4. What did Morrison describe the "Church of God" as existing as? (From question: "What is that church like?")

5. When did "we" awake? (Poem 2-"Drywater")

Short Essay Questions

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

2. In the fourth poem from the "Drywater" section, how did Morrison bring religious imagery into the poem?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

In the final section of the book "As I Look Back", Morrison claimed that he was stunned by the forgetting of his past. Discuss the relation of Morrison's poetry in sections prior to the last section. How does it seem confusing that Morrison claimed to forget his past, but have a vivid enough memory to write the image-filled poetry that packed all of the previous sections? What could have Morrison been speaking about? Explain using combination of textual evidence and personal understanding.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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