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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 is Allen Ginsberg's most famous work?

2. What is the name of Michael McClure's fictionalized character in Big Sur?

3. What is the name of the evil force that is everywhere in "Howl"?

4. What is the first excerpted selection of Gregory Corso's in the text?

5. What word does Michael McClure frequently play with in "Peyote Poem"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Micheal McClure? Describe his "Peyote Poem."

2. Describe William S. Burroughs' excerpt from "Junky." What is significant about this subject?

3. What do Cassady's letters to Kerouac reveal about him?

4. Describe the subject of "Visions of Cody."

5. What does Kerouac's letter to Neal Cassady reveal about their friendship?

6. How do Cassady and Kerouac differ on their perspective of Cassady's childhood?

7. Describe Kerouac's depiction of the jazz band in the excerpt from "On the Road." To whom are they compared ?

8. What are Herbert Huncke's contributions in the anthology? On what subjects does he focus?

9. Who is Kenneth Rexroth? What is his contribution in the anthology?

10. Who is John Clellon Holmes, and what is his impact on the Beat Generation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the San Francisco Renaissance? When did it take place? What was the Gallery Six reading about?

Essay Topic 2

How did the Beat Generation originate? What key figures began the movement? Where did they meet?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss and describe the world events which directly or indirectly instigated the Beat Generation. How do the members of the Beat Generation view mainstream society? Why?

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