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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 recognizes what about the item?

2. Where is it located?

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

4. Ginsberg thinks about which famous poet?

5. The author is not _____________.

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was involved in regard to some of the social and political action taken by Ginsberg's peers?

3. What is the main theme of the poem? Why is the theme important?

4. How does the poet speak about the people of his generation?

5. Name at least two themes used in SUNFLOWER SUTRA. How do you know?

6. What kinds of things are represented by the flower? What is Ginsberg able to see that is no longer present?

7. Which things mentioned in the beginning of the poem bring serenity to the author?

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

9. What common object is spotted by Kerouac? Where? What is Ginsberg's reaction?

10. What is Ginsberg's take on people who may not be righteous?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a detailed analysis of each line of HOWL. You can choose to do so using either subjective or academic reasoning. Explain your analysis in detail. Cite sources where applicable.

Essay Topic 2

In the poem SONG Ginsberg writes about love as a burden as well as sorrow and joy, need and pain. What are Ginsberg's views on these topics? Explain the difference between platonic and erotic love. Use examples in Ginsberg's poetry to illustrate your opinions of each. How does love relate to hate? Write about love versus sex. What are the differences and similarities between the way men and women view each?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 596 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample