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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 want to be, as detailed by the poem that began "Fence my scared fire"?

2. Why did Morrison claim the night described in the tenth poem ("Village Tapes") was the "greatest night of my life"?

3. What "stunned the earth" in the second poem of the "Drywater" section?

4. How did the "Jamaica" section end?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Given that the poetry shows Morrison's direct concerns and feelings regarding life, which poem do you believe shows the most truthful representation of Morrison? How did the poem illustrate Morrison as a man, a writer, and a legend? How did he feel about who he was?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Morrison used the imagery of birds in many of the poems in the book. Discuss the different ways that the birds were used in the poems. Chose at least 3 poems in which Morrison used birds and explain their use in the poem. How was the usage similar? How was the usage different?

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