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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. Whitman says that he was offering too long to feed his soul with __________, which was clearly not a good idea..

2. Whitman realizes he was still not happen when he heard _________ and was received well at the capitol.

3. During this section of the poems, what age does Whitman profess to being?

4. Which sort of bird caused Whitman to stop and open listen to it opening its throat and joyfully singing?

5. Whitman points out that it is not on the reader that they alone have ___________ which fall on them

Short Essay Questions

1. What parts of the United States structure does Whitman have a lot of respect for?

2. What can be determined about Whitman's life experiences by the reading of the many poems which Whitman has crafted about the water?

3. Why does Whitman warn the readers about the dangers of religion and those who are enamored of it?

4. What is so strange about the idea that Whitman is so fervently patriotic in the poems he has written? When was Whitman born in relation to the 'birth' of the United States?

5. What does Whitman reveal about a lover who spoke of acceptance within one of his poems?

6. Where was Whitman born, and how does that place affect him?

7. What is the main reason why Whitman says that he enjoys Manhattan so much during his travels there?

8. What does Whitman state about the idea of what happens after death, though he is still unsure?

9. What does Whitman have to say about the pain of loving a man or a woman in great excess?

10. What does Whitman say when someone else is present with his body? What changes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whitman seems to have a very strong sense of patriotism and allegiance to the United States.

Part 1: Did you find it surprising that Whitman was so patriotic? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you think it's important to have a strong sense of patriotism as a creative person?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman felt so strongly about the United States that he had to include poems about patriotism?

Essay Topic 2

People are not always what they seem, according to Whitman, and few would disagree.

Part 1: Why do you think Whitman wanted to be clear that no one is what they seem?

Part 2: Do you think you would tell a lover or friend that you are not what you appear?

Part 3: How would you react if someone told you that not all is what it seems to be?

Essay Topic 3

Whitman talks a lot about the idea of democracy and how it differs today from the way it began.

Part 1: How do you see democracy working in today's world?

Part 2: Do you think democracy is an effective system of making decisions and governing people?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman wants to talk about democracy in his poems?

(see the answer keys)

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