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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's idea of the country could be related best to which of the following?

2. Who uses the building most?

3. Which word best describes the child?

4. What has sacrificed itself?

5. What does Ginsberg compare to an asphodel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the child's condition and outlook upon his surroundings?

2. What is one of the main things that Ginsberg opposes during this time?

3. How long will Ginsberg continue to work at Greyhound? What is his opinion of the wage and capitalism?

4. What is the child thinking about? How does it relate to his family?

5. How does the theme affect each person? Where does it appear?

6. What is the main theme of this poem? What is the poet's opinion of the theme?

7. What is an asphodel? How does it compare to Ginsberg's concept of desire?

8. What is Ginsberg's comment about immigrants and their treatment in America?

9. What is the setting for this poem? When was it written?

10. What is the poet's feeling about physical passion and the enjoyment of it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In BACK OF THE REAL Ginsberg mentions Jesus and the crown of thorns. Why did Ginsberg choose this particular symbol? Give examples off types of symbolism used in this poem. How does Ginsberg use the crown of thorns as a metaphor? What does the metaphor represents Are there other flowers are plants that might have worked better than the crown of thorns? Does the juxtaposition used help or hinder the poem? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Write a detailed analysis of each line of HOWL. You can choose to do so using either subjective or academic reasoning. Explain your analysis in detail. Cite sources where applicable.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 636 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample