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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. The author warns against the dangers of which of the following?

2. Who is Charon?

3. Which part of society can be considered to be holy?

4. The friend refers to the item as a ____________.

5. Which of the following is not listed as being in the abyss?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Ginsberg's first encounter with Whitman?

2. Where does Ginsberg imagine he sees Whitman just before they go separate ways?

3. Ginsberg spends a great deal of time talking about what is holy. What are the poet's thoughts on the subject?

4. What were some of the things the people of Ginsberg's generation did to try and ease the pain of youth?

5. What mystical reference is made by Ginsberg? Does Ginsberg want to keep it a secret?

6. According to Williams and Ginsberg, how is it possible for love to survive?

7. What kinds of things, integral in Ginsberg's life, bring joy?

8. What kind of experiences took place in HOWL? To what does Williams compare those experiences?

9. What is Ginsberg's dream about being with Whitman in the store?

10. What types of people are noticed by Ginsberg inside the supermarket?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

HOWL speaks a lot about madness. Explain what Ginsberg means by madness. Is it psychological, trauma induced, or sociologically or politically aggravated? What type of madness affected those in Ginsberg's generation? What are the symptoms of this madness? What are potential treatments? Is there a cure? How would such madness be treated today?

Essay Topic 2

In AN ASPHODEL Ginsberg talks about lust and quenching desire. Were writers discussing this topic 100 years before? Write about the similarities and differences in the poetry of the 1850s versus Ginsberg worked in the 1950s. Do you think that there is a great difference between need and emotional connection between people given the fact that Ginsberg is gay? What are your own experiences with identifying and quelling at various desires - mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the Beat Generation and Ginsberg's part in it. How did it start? Who was involved? What were the basic tenets? How did it change the arts/social/political climate in the US? How long did it last? When did it end? What became of the influential members of the Beat Generation after the next new wave of artists hit the scene?

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This section contains 608 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample