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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 purpose of the Warriors' ceremony in "The Idols of the Tribe"?

2. What does the poet of "The Idols of the Tribe" believe is in every society?

3. Who does Tolson list in "Tapestries of Time" as being a tyrant?

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

5. What should the viewer of art never doubt according to "Delta"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the danger of worshiping false idols according to Tolson?

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

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

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

5. What is Tolson's opinion on tyrants as seen in the poem "A Long Head to a Round Head"?

6. 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.

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

8. What is the significance of the Curator in Harlem Gallery distinguishing the importance of the word "ex"?

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

10. Explain your interpretation of the line "You are / Black Lazarus risen from the White Man's grave" from the poem "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When considering Tolson's life, where do you believe he found the inspiration for his poems? What does this book cause you to think about the author's life? What do you believe inspired Tolson more, the present or past?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

How does the setting effect the reader's experience of the poem? Does it matter that the poem is set in another country or time period? Describe the setting of the poem of you choice and explain how it effected your experience of the poem.

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