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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. "Kaddish" is a poem about the life and death of whom?

2. What university did William S. Burroughs attend?

3. Where did the Six Gallery reading take place?

4. Whom did Neal Cassady marry in 1948?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ann Charters write about Carl Solomon in his biographical information? What is his work about?

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

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

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

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

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

7. Describe the exposition from the beginning excerpt of "On the Road." Who are the characters introduced?

8. Describe Huncke's depictions of sexuality in his work.

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

10. What political references are made in the poem "America"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the importance of the novel Go and John Clellon Holmes' impact on the Beat Generation. What was the response of the Beats upon Go's publication?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

What is the New York School of Poetry? When did it originate? Who were the key members? How does it relate to the Beat Generation?

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