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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. Ginsberg laments the loss of which of the following?

2. Ginsberg believed that many people worshiped which of the following?

3. What is Rockland?

4. The author warns against the dangers of which of the following?

5. What is the surname of the friend mentioned in the poem?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was involved in regard to some of the social and political action taken by Ginsberg's peers?

2. What is Ginsberg's opinion of Whitman? How does the younger poet view the older, more famous poet?

3. What kinds of things are represented by the flower? What is Ginsberg able to see that is no longer present?

4. What were some of the things the people of Ginsberg's generation did to try and ease the pain of youth?

5. What is Ginsberg's take on people who may not be righteous?

6. Ginsberg spends a great deal of time talking about what is holy. What are the poet's thoughts on the subject?

7. What can the reader expect when reading HOWL?

8. What question does Ginsberg ask? To what can the sunflower be compared?

9. How does Ginsberg's lack of money affect his attitude in this poem?

10. Why did Ginsberg experience a great deal of confusion and distress during his adolescence?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many members of the Beat Generation seem to have a great fondness for locomotives and traveling. In Sunflower Sutra, Ginsberg and Kerouac relate locomotives to days gone by and an old America as well as to the lives of hobos and rail jumpers. Compare and contrast reality versus romance in regards to locomotives. Write about the imagery of locomotives in the US versus other countries. Include an analysis of how romance is tied to trains like the Oriental Express. What form of transportation has taken place of the locomotive?

Essay Topic 2

In AN ASPHODEL Ginsberg talks about lust and quenching desire. Were writers discussing this topic 100 years before? Write about the similarities and differences in the poetry of the 1850s versus Ginsberg worked in the 1950s. Do you think that there is a great difference between need and emotional connection between people given the fact that Ginsberg is gay? What are your own experiences with identifying and quelling at various desires - mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the Beat Generation and Ginsberg's part in it. How did it start? Who was involved? What were the basic tenets? How did it change the arts/social/political climate in the US? How long did it last? When did it end? What became of the influential members of the Beat Generation after the next new wave of artists hit the scene?

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