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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 kind of pilots has the poet seen in "Autobiography"?

2. The poet writes in "I Am Waiting" that he is waiting for a religious revival to sweep through the state of what?

3. In "I Am Waiting" the poet writes he is waiting to write the great ____ poem.

4. How does the poet write of knowing whores in "Junkman's Obbligato"?

5. Who does the poet refer to in the lines, "Take up the full beard/of walking anarchy"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Autobiography," to what animal does the poet compare himself? What has he seen?

2. Describe the train in "Meet Miss Subways." How is this tied to its theme?

3. Describe the pop culture and literary references the author makes in "Autobiography."

4. Describe the dog in the poem, "Dog."

5. What are the major points of "Autobiography"?

6. Why does the author describe the poems of Chapter Two as "oral messages"?

7. What is the overall theme of the poem "Junkman's Obbligato"? What allusions point to this?

8. What is the underlying meaning of the poem "I Am Waiting"?

9. What is admirable to the poet about the dog in "Dog"?

10. What does the poet suggest to the reader in "Junkman's Obbligato"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the poem "Junkman's Obbligato" from Chapter Two. What is unique about the use of rhyme and meter in this poem? In what ways is the poem a rallying cry?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the examination of America in the poem "Autobiography." In what ways does the poet describe himself as an American? What does he juxtapose in terms of settings and imagery?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the major themes of Chapter 1. Define the term "theme" and give examples of the symbolism and imagery the author uses to illuminate these themes.

(see the answer keys)

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