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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 "we" do to send "our" gift into the vast promise? (Poem 2- "Village Tapes")

2. What was Morrison describing in the poem under "Victimization"?

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

4. How many drops of rain suffice when "one is not deluged by rain"? (Poem 4- "Drywater")

5. What is the metaphor that Morrison used for the "night"? (Poem 1-"Drywater")

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How did Morrison describe the vultures in the poem from the section "Jamaica"?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

Essay Topic 3

In a few of the poems, Morrison described relationships that he had with women. Discuss the different relationships that Morrison described in the poetry. What was the relationship based upon? How did you know this? How did Morrison feel about the relationship? About the woman? Use textual evidence to support your findings.

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