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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. In "The Horns of the Morning," what does the poet say the mornings are bright with?

2. What season does the poem "Coming" discuss?

3. In the poem "Reasons for Attendance," where is the narrator?

4. In the poem "This Is the First Thing," what sound does the narrator say time is?

5. In the poem "Winter," which of these elements is NOT mentioned?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the poem "Dublinesque," what is going through the streets? What name is heard?

2. Where is the narrator in the poem "Climbing the Hill"? What is the tone of the poem?

3. To whom is the poem "Conscript" dedicated? What does the subject of the poem have to defend?

4. What is the poem "Water" about? What does he say about water?

5. In the poem "The Large Cool Store," what does the store sell? What is the end of the poem about?

6. What is the setting of the poem "Reasons for Attendance"? Where is the narrator? Why?

7. In the poem "Toads Revisited," where is the narrator? What does he contemplate?

8. In the poem "Maiden Name," what has marriage done to the subject? What is the result of this?

9. In "Livings," where is the narrator? Why does he go there?

10. In "A Writer," what gift did the writer possess? How was the narrator different from other people then?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Larkin uses nature often in his poetry. Using at least two poems, write an essay that explains his comparison of human characteristics vs. those of nature.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining the symbolism behind Larkin's use of the moon in the collection "The North Ship."

Essay Topic 3

Ships are a common element that Larkin uses in his poetry. Write an essay on the symbolism of the ship in Larkin's collection "The Less Deceived."

(see the answer keys)

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