View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year did Rilke write "The Seven Phallic Poems"?

2. Of what fruit does Rilke write of in "The Poet Praises"?

3. Over what does the poet write, "we will together contend" in "Greek Love-Talk"?

4. From what collection is "The Poet Praises" taken?

5. Which poem begins, "See how in their veins all becomes spirit"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rilke write of using the metaphor of water, song, and play in his untitled poems?

2. Discuss the imagery and symbolism in the poems "From the Cycle: Nights" and "Force of Gravity."

3. In the fourth and fifth of The Seven Phallic Poems, what imagery does the poet use for climax?

4. What happens when one gives oneself completely over to love, according to the poet?

5. What does Mood say in regard to Rilke's vision of Eros in the Prologue?

6. What metaphors does Rilke use for a woman's womb in The Seven Phallic Poems?

7. What is the subject and imagery in the poem "Magic"?

8. In the untitled poems of "Rilke's Poems of Other Difficulties," how does Rilke write of the gods?

9. What does Rilke say regarding the young and marriage in his letters?

10. Discuss the subjects of "Greek Love Talk" and "The Lovers." What imagery is used?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the poems, "Greek Love-Talk" and "The Lovers," describing an analysis of their structure, the placement of punctuation and capitalization, and assonance or alliteration.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. What are Rilke's common subjects in his writing? What genres of literature did Rilke write? What are the overriding themes which embody his works?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following in terms of their influence on Rilke and his writing: Friedrich Nietzsche, Auguste Rodin, Sigmund Freud.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 856 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample