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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 is the result in "Rendezvous With America," of the historic places the poet speaks of?

2. Who does the farmer in "Old Man Michael" blame for his bad crops?

3. Who is Crispus Attucks?

4. What does the narrator in "A Hamlet Rives Us" fail to acknowledge?

5. What Indian tribe tied up the man in "The Ballad of the Rattlesnake"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do different people view the world in "A Primer for Today"?

2. How does Tolson demonstrate that Crispus Attucks is a hero in "Allegro Moderato"?

3. How does Tolson remove black men from responsibility in "Larghetto"?

4. Why does the teacher die in "The Gallows"?

5. What might "The Shift of Gears" be a metaphor for?

6. Why is it important that Tolson does not identify the race of the person who tells the story in "The Ballad of the Rattlesnake"?

7. How does "The Street Called Straight" become crooked?

8. What is the meaning of the bones of both the snake and the man are left in the dessert in "The Ballad of the Rattlesnake"?

9. What historical events does Tolson believe tested the powers of Americans in "Rendezvous with America"? What was the result of these events?

10. What does Tolson hope for himself in the poem "A Song for Myself"? What does he hope for the reader?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term symbolism and explain the symbolism present in "The Mountain Climber."

Essay Topic 2

One of the themes that reoccurs in Tolson's poetry is that of the hardworking every-man. Chose one poem where this theme is present and explain how Tolson presents it using imagery and symbolism.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss one of the characters in the Harlem Galleries. How does this character change from the beginning to the end of the collection? Do you believe Tolson allows the character to change if he or she does? Why does Tolson choose to allow the character to remain stagnant if he or she does? Choose one other character in the Harlem Galleries and explain their relationship with the initial character you chose.

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This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample