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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. Who is the "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia" dedicated to?

2. Who follows tyrants?

3. Where does "Alpha" take place?

4. Who is the self-portrait of in "Upsilon"?

5. In "African China," who is Big John?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Tolson believe that despite the reign of tyrants justice will prevail?

3. 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.

4. What is the significance of the Harlem Gallery according to Tolson?

5. How does Tolson address tyranny in the poem "Tapestries of Time"?

6. What does Tolson believe is the greatest gift Africa has to give to its people according to "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia"?

7. What is the significance of the word tapestries in the poem "Tapestries of Time"?

8. How does Tolson believe tyrants remain in power?

9. Why does the poem "The Idols of the Tribe" open with a quote from Hitler?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is the word tapestries important in the poem "Tapestries of Time"?

Essay Topic 2

Choose two significant events Tolson mentions in "Rendezvous With America." What are these events and why does Tolson include them in this poem?

Essay Topic 3

Tolson creates and discusses many interesting people in his poems. Choose one person or couple he mentions in a poem explain how those people or characters help deliver the message of the poem.

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