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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 emotion is connected to the soul?

2. Ginsberg talks about his job in relation to which of the following?

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

4. Which word best describes the child?

5. What kind of transportation line is Greyhound?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is at least one of Ginsberg's comments about the racks and baggage?

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

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

7. How does the poem end? What is the inference of things to come?

8. What is the point of the poem? What is the poet's conclusion?

9. What are the setting and characters featured in the poem? What is the main activity?

10. Aside from housing personal baggage, what does Ginsberg believe is the purpose of the racks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ginsberg refers to Carl Solomon's stint in a mental institution. Examine Ginsberg's tales. Do you think they are true or false? Why? Compare and contrast today's institutions with ones commonly found in the 1950s. Discuss different treatments, effectiveness, facilities, etc. Also discuss the common use of shock treatments as a method of curing insanity.

Essay Topic 2

Write a biography on famed poet William Carlos Williams. Include his youth, education, personal and professional lives. Also include Williams' professional and personal relationships with Allen Ginsberg as well as other Beat Generation poets Gregory Corso, Jack Kerouac, and Michael McClure. Also discuss how Williams affected the New York literary scene.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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