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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 emotion do we carry through life?

2. Which word best describes the child?

3. What relative is mentioned in the poem?

4. What type of building is mentioned?

5. What do they walk by?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What path of thought does the item inspire?

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

7. How does the poem end? What is the inference of things to come?

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

9. How should one behave in the giving and receiving of love? Where does this habit originate?

10. What is one of the main themes in this poem? To what does Ginsberg compare the flower?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare communism, socialism and capitalism. Use examples of each to illustrate points including pros and cons as well as political and social ramifications. In your opinion which is best? Explain. Using Ginsberg's poetry as a starting point, what do you believe the poet's opinion was of each? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Ginsberg speaks about workers on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. Compare and contrast the life of a freelance artist with one who works a 9-to-5 job. Do the same with a freelance writer or poet. Is one job more creative than the other? What are the pros and cons of each? Do you think the 9-to-5ers have sold out by taking jobs in advertising? Explain.

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)

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