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 Sonnet XV, Neruda says that Matilde is as firm as what two items?

2. In Sonnet XVI, Neruda relates Matilde's body to which object?

3. In Sonnet XLIII, where does Neruda look for similarities to Matilde and her appearance?

4. Why does Neruda state that he does not love Matilde in Sonnet XLIV?

5. In Sonnet VII, what does Neruda say reminds him of Matilde's eyes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Matilde's role in the "miniature empire" Neruda describes in Sonnet XXXVI?

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

3. What images does Neruda use in Sonnet XLVI to explain how he chose Matilde out of any other alternatives?

4. What are some aspects of Matilde's ugliness and beauty does Neruda list in Sonnet XX?

5. In Sonnet XI, Neruda is starving and is prowling for sustenance. What "food" is he looking for?

6. In Sonnet XXXIII, where are Matilde and Neruda before they return "across the crackling sea?" Why do they return home?

7. What gives Neruda and Matilde the "eternal life of the Natural" in Sonnet XLVIII?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose at least three recurring motifs that appear throughout Neruda's works. Explore the significance of each recurring motif, including any symbolism associated with the motif. Support all assertions with examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Wood is a recurring theme in Neruda's 100 Sonnets. Analyze Neruda's usage of that motif and examine the symbolism and imagery associated with wood. Be sure to support all assertions with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Neruda's use of food imagery. What objects or concepts does Neruda relate to food? What properties do the described objects and the food they are compared to have in common? What do the food images in Neruda's poems indicate about the poet himself and how he views the object being described? Support any assertions with examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,109 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample