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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 is the defining foliage of the oil age in "Plasticene Suite"?

2. How do the feathers fall in "Feather"?

3. What is the scent of autumn like in "Aflame"?

4. What did the madman once love in "Walking in the Madman's Wood"?

5. What is the outdoor gear of the "darlings" like in "Heart of the Arctic"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the speaker in the poem "Feather" make sure not to waste?

2. In quoting Rilke, what does Atwood say about poetry?

3. What is the "defining foliage of the oil age" in the poem "Foliage"?

4. In the poem "Fatal Light Awareness," what do we know that the birds do not?

5. What should have been inside the dead bird instead of plastic in the poem "Midway Island Albatross"?

6. What is the main message in "Heart of the Arctic"?

7. What are the advantages of having a spider in the house in the poem "Spider Signatures"?

8. What tense does not exist at the conference in the poem "At the Translation Conference" and why?

9. What does the speaker in the poem "Little Robot" worry the robot might do?

10. Why does the speaker insinuate people are so desperate for rain in the poem "Tracking the Rain"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What dual meanings and symbolism does Atwood assign to souvenirs in the poem in Part I by that title? Write an essay explaining your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of Atwood's pieces of advice to readers regarding the topics of aging and death? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

Judging from this collection, what is Atwood's opinion and outlook on the future of the planet in terms of human influence on the environment? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

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This section contains 550 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample