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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 does the river in Sonnet XLIX signify?

2. In Sonnet XIV, which of Matilde's features does Neruda say he does not have time to celebrate?

3. In Sonnet III, what words does Neruda use to describe love?

4. In Sonnet XX, what two opposing concepts does Neruda use to describe Matilde?

5. In Sonnet XLVIII, what does Neruda say two happy lovers make?

Short Essay Questions

1. List some examples of earth imagery Neruda uses to describe Matilde in Sonnet XXX.

2. How does Neruda describe Matilde's hands in Sonnet XL?

3. What does Neruda say about Matilde's hair in Sonnet XIV?

4. in Sonnet V, what does Neruda realize after he wanders through the streets "like a man wounded?"

5. Why does Neruda give Matilde the title "The One Who Puts Things in Order" in Sonnet XXXI?

6. What obstacles does Neruda and Matilde's love face in Sonnet XXVIII? Does their love survive?

7. In Sonnet VII, what causes Neruda's emotions to burst forth like "geysers flooding from deep in its vault?"

8. Neruda says that "everything alive has its two sides," including love. In Sonnet XLIV, what are the two sides of Neruda's love for Matilde? Why are both sides important?

9. What brings night and day to Neruda in Sonnet XXXV?

10. Why does Neruda's description of Matilde's laugh contrast so strongly with her physical appearance in Sonnet L?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of Neruda's poems include examples of cycles or cyclical images. Examine the poet's inclusion of cycles in his poems and the importance of those cycles to the overarching themes contained in Neruda's 100 Sonnets. Use specific cycles that are found in the poems, and support all assertions with examples from the texts.

Essay Topic 2

Neruda's poetry is packed with images from nature, and nature plays a dominant role in most of Neruda's sonnets.

1) Trace the importance of nature through Neruda's 100 Sonnets. What are some concepts that nature symbolizes? Some concepts one may want to consider include the relationship between nature and Matilde, nature and love, nature and Neruda's childhood, etc.

2) Choose at least three concepts or objects discussed in Part 1, and analyze the relationships between those objects and nature. Provide an in-depth assessment of those images and concepts, using specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Many of Neruda's poems focus extensively on different animals or insects. Choose three poems that contain examples of animals or insects, and examine the importance of those beings in the poem. Use specific examples from the book.

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