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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 Ginsberg feel about the use of a particular weapon by government?

2. What word is used to describe the racks?

3. What is the weapon?

4. What year was the poem written?

5. Ginsberg's idea of the country could be related best to which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is an asphodel? How does it compare to Ginsberg's concept of desire?

2. What is the poet's feeling about physical passion and the enjoyment of it?

3. Aside from housing personal baggage, what does Ginsberg believe is the purpose of the racks?

4. How does the theme affect each person? Where does it appear?

5. What is the child thinking about? How does it relate to his family?

6. Where does Ginsberg work in this poem? What is his position? What are people waiting for?

7. What are the setting and characters featured in the poem? What is the main activity?

8. In what room in his apartment does the poet talk about his needs? What is his condition?

9. What item catches Ginsberg's eye? Where is it?

10. What is the setting for this poem? When was it written?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the poems included in the work is titled SUNFLOWER SUTRA. What is a Sutra? Study all forms used by Ginsberg. It which is the most popular? Why? How many poems included in this work could be considered Sutras? What are common themes? How does Ginsberg incorporate imagery and juxtaposition in his work as he did in SUNFLOWER SUTRA? What is the purpose? Does it make the work better? Explain. What other poet is similar?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

In BACK OF THE REAL Ginsberg mentions Jesus and the crown of thorns. Why did Ginsberg choose this particular symbol? Give examples off types of symbolism used in this poem. How does Ginsberg use the crown of thorns as a metaphor? What does the metaphor represents Are there other flowers are plants that might have worked better than the crown of thorns? Does the juxtaposition used help or hinder the poem? Explain.

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