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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. How does the narrator of "The Idols of the Tribe" describe the yellow god?

2. Why will the narrator in "Beta" never be censored?

3. What colors does the curator mention in "Gamma"?

4. What does the narrator see at the end of "Tapestries of Time"?

5. Who does the Golden Age occur with?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tolson believe tyrants remain in power?

2. What is the significance of separating "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia" into musical segments?

3. How does the narrator define himself in "E.&O.E."?

4. What does the poem "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia" mean when it suggests that America is the narrator's mother and Liberia is his wife.

5. According to Tolson in the poem "The Idols of the Tribe," who is likely to worship false idols?

6. What does the Curator think about Hideho Heights? Why does he feel this way?

7. What is Tolson's opinion of Abraham Lincoln in "Abraham Lincoln of Rock Springs Farm"?

8. Describe the different Gods Tolson describes in "The Idols of the Tribe."

9. What might have been the reason Tolson elects to use the Greek alphabet to separate his poem Harlem Gallery?

10. In "Pi" it is written that art without limits can climb mountains. What is meant by this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss one of the characters in the Harlem Galleries. How does this character change from the beginning to the end of the collection? Do you believe Tolson allows the character to change if he or she does? Why does Tolson choose to allow the character to remain stagnant if he or she does? Choose one other character in the Harlem Galleries and explain their relationship with the initial character you chose.

Essay Topic 2

How does Tolson address the theme of America as a melting pot? Choose two examples of how this idea appears in his poems, and explain whether he believes the concept of the melting pot to be true.

Essay Topic 3

How does Tolson use symbolism in the poem "The Gallows"? What is the meaning behind the symbolic element(s) in this poem?

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