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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 do the "falcons of the inner eye" do in Poem 11?

2. In Poem 22, what is Johnny's last name?

3. What is the repeated refrain in Poem 27?

4. In Poem 10, what does the poet write he has not lain with all his life?

5. In Poem 12, where did he hound the leaded ground?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Goya's paintings as described by the author in Poem 1.

2. What is the statue described as in Poem 6 of Chapter One?

3. What is the second poem of Chapter 1 about? What imagery is used?

4. Describe Poem 7 of Chapter One. What literally happens in the poem, and what is the underlying meaning?

5. Describe the Christ figure in Poem 5 of Chapter One.

6. What does Chagall do in Poem 14 of Chapter One?

7. What events take place in Poem 18 of Chapter One? How does the poet describe "the dreamer"?

8. In Chapter One, where does Poem 20 take place? With what does the poet fall in love?

9. What is the juxtaposition of setting in Poem 19 of Chapter One? How is memory involved?

10. What is the major theme of Poem 29 of Chapter One?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Poem 2 of "A Coney Island of the Mind" begins, "Sailing thru the straits of Demos / we saw symbolic birds / shrieking over us." Describe the bird and animal imagery in this poem and how they relates to the poem's themes.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the central character in the poem, "Meet Miss Subways." What year does this poem take place? What is the significance of the woman's race? Describe the setting of the poem.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the major themes of Chapter 1. Define the term "theme" and give examples of the symbolism and imagery the author uses to illuminate these themes.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 766 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample