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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. In the poem "Silence of Night", what is described as being in the "starry night"?

2. In poem two, of the section "Jamaica", where are the Major's boots?

3. Who was the "deaf witness on the bank" compared to? (Poem 4-"Drywater")

4. What did Morrison say that he had to leave? (Poem 1-"Jamaica")

5. What was the brain filled with? (Poem 1- "Drywater)

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What did Morrison state that children and men feared? ("Jamaica")

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morrison claimed that "real poetry doesn't say anything". Do you agree with his statement after reading his book? Why/Why not? Is Morrison's poetry "real"?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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