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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 poem "If Grief Could Burn Out," to what does the narrator compare grief?

2. Finish this line from the poem "No Road": "Since we agreed to let the road between us ___________."

3. In the poem "Maiden Name," what did marriage do to the woman?

4. How many parts compose "The North Ship"?

5. What "irritant" is mentioned in the poem "Dry-Point"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the narrator talking to in the poem "I Put My Mouth"? What is the poem about?

2. In the poem "Faith Healing," what are the women doing? How are they trying to do this?

3. Where is the narrator in the poem "Night Music"? What does the poem celebrate?

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

5. How many parts comprise the poem "The North Ship"? Where is the third ship going?

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

7. In "Since the Majority of Me," what does "the majority of me" reject? What is the result of this?

8. In "Friday Night at the Royal Station Hotel," to what does the narrator compare the hotel? What kind of letters do the people write?

9. In the poem "The Trees," what does the narrator say the trees' greenness is? What do trees do that humans should follow?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Throughout his collected poems, Larkin calls upon the theme of youth to illustrate age and longing. Write an essay about the topic of youth in the collection "The Less Deceived," using at least three examples.

Essay Topic 3

Like dance, song plays a key role in many of Larkin's poems. Write an essay on Larkin's use of song in the collection "The Whitsun Weddings."

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