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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. Which word best describes the child?

2. How are people's lives described?

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

4. People are described as being ____________.

5. What group is mentioned in the poem?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is the burden one must carry? How should one react to this burden?

4. How long will Ginsberg continue to work at Greyhound? What is his opinion of the wage and capitalism?

5. What path of thought does the item inspire?

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

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

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

9. What is at least one of Ginsberg's comments about the racks and baggage?

10. What is one of the main things that Ginsberg opposes during this time?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

William Carlos Williams says that HOWL is much like going through hell. Write a 750 word essay on Williams' opinion, relating it to each part of the poem. Also examine how other famous poems have used the same theme, concept and or imagery. Compare and contrast those poems to Ginsberg's Howl and other poetry.

Essay Topic 2

Ginsberg discusses the mechanics of industry in the 1950s. How did the Industrial Revolution effect the environment compared to previous ways of manufacture? What might the environment be like 50 years from now? 100 years from now? Create a short list of modern advancements in industrial procedures. Explain their purpose and use. How will these advancements incur change? Will the change be for better or for worse?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 585 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample