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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. How did the "Jamaica" section end?

2. What did Morrison call blessed, in the first poem in the section "Jamaica"?

3. What was behind the nursery door? (Poem 5-"Jamaica")

4. What was described as consisting of "organic gears"? (Poem 1-"Drywater")

5. Where did the people in the poem think they might be? (Poem 2- "Village Tapes")

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Morrison was very traumatized by the sight of the dead Native American Indians on the side of the road. Choose 3 poems and discuss how this trauma translated into poetry. How did Morrison use the imagery of what he saw on the highway? What impression did this sight leave on Morrison? How did the poem speak to Morrison's feelings about what happened?

Essay Topic 2

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?

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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