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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 narrator describe dusting "them" in the first sentence of “The Flashes in Which A Man Possesses Himself”?

2. The yellowbeard suggests that doctors hide the fact that many children are born with what in “Distances”?

3. When did World War I begin?

4. The beginning of “Kiss” finds Geryon contemplating the "cracks and fissures of" what?

5. What does Herakles describe Geryon saving in his dream in “Freedom"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the term “Mitwelt” refer to in this poem?

2. What is Geryon doing when he encounters Herakles in "Kiss"? Why?

3. What memories come to Geryon in “Tango”?

4. What is suggested by the flushed cheeks of the passengers on the plane in “Gladys”?

5. What is significant about the reference to Helen in “Interview (Stesichoros)”?

6. How do the soldiers describe the volcano in “Photographs: I Am A Beast”?

7. How does Geryon feel about his circumstances while traveling in “Aeroplane”?

8. What does the flour represent in “The Flashes in Which A Man Possesses Himself”?

9. What does the title of the poem “Gladys” refer to?

10. How is volcano imagery employed in “Kiss”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the meaning of the word "EACH" to Geryon. Who defines this word for him and how is it defined? What meaning does this word take on as the narrative continues?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of the developing artist in Autobiography of Red. What forms of art does Geryon experiment with in the narrative? How does Geryon advance as an artist? What statements do you think Anne Carson is making regarding the development of the artist?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of Ancash in the novel. Where does Geryon meet Ancash? How would you describe the relationship between these characters? What leads to the conflict between them?

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