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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. Williams refers to Howl as a ______________.

2. Which of the following was common on the scene in those days?

3. Williams talks about Ginsberg's experiences after the end of what major event?

4. Which of the following is not listed as being in the abyss?

5. Which place is referred to in the poem?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What can the reader expect when reading HOWL?

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

4. According to Ginsberg, what are some of the things that keep America interesting?

5. What was Ginsberg's relationship to Carl Solomon?

6. How does Ginsberg compare the flower to the locomotive? What is the symbolism/metaphor?

7. Discuss Ginsberg's view of creative people who had to go to work in order to survive.

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

9. What does Ginsberg say about the quality of the soul? Where does it fit into the theme?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

IN THE BAGGAGE ROOM AT GREYHOUND discusses Ginsberg's views about what goes on in a bus station. Explain the purpose of using this particular location. What does Ginsberg see? What is unusual about the people? Describe the interaction between Ginsberg and the workers and passengers. What do the workers represent? What can one learn from performing such observations? Take a similar personal experience and compare and contrast it with Ginsberg's experience at Greyhound.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

There was a lot of yearning mentioned in the work. Relate to this yearning to the poetry of Walt Whitman. Write a Whitman-esque poem regarding yearning. Analyze and list at least three other poets or poems in the same vein. Compare and contrast to Ginsberg's work at that time to Whitman's.

(see the answer keys)

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