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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 "To Write One Song," where does the narrator go so that he can write a sad song?

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

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

4. In the poem "Nursery Tale," what does the narrator say he remembers?

5. In the poem "Poetry of Departure," what does the narrator say he gets sick of?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does the narrator say that home is sad in the poem "Home is so Sad"? Name at least two household objects the narrator talks about in the poem.

3. In "Homage to a Government," why are the soldiers coming home? What does the narrator say they can hope to leave them?

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

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

6. In the poem "Love Songs in an Age," what object(s) did the woman keep? What does this do for the woman?

7. Who is the subject of the poem "Like the Train's Beat"? How does the narrator describe this person?

8. What line is repeated in the poem "All Catches Alight"? What purpose does the repeated line serve?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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."

Essay Topic 3

Larkin uses flowers often in his poetry. Write an essay explaining two different ways that Larkin uses flowers in his poems. Make sure you use strong examples in your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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