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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. After the results of the water strider's attempts to teach others to walk on water, why might the water striders want to continue "teaching" others to walk on water?

2. What does the moth do throughout the entirety of this poem?

3. The mayfly's birth and death take place when?

4. Only when does the mayfly seem to feel nostalgia?

5. What is the mood of "Mayflies?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of this book?

2. How does the poet use words to make the movement of the firefly more exciting and vivid? Do you think this is effective? Why or why not?

3. What does the poem "Book Lice" do for English literature?

4. Why are mayflies so frantic, according to this poem?

5. What is the mood of the book lice poem? Why?

6. What mood is created by the behavior of the water striders? Why?

7. How does a mayfly's life compare to our own?

8. How are these lice like people?

9. How are mayflies and fireflies similar?

10. Why might the poet write a book about insects? Why did he choose to write about insects using poetry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The insects described in this book have varying personalities and characteristics.

Part 1) Which species seem to be the most like humans, based on these poems? How are they like humans?

Part 2) Why has the poet portrayed them in this way? How might this affect one's view of this species?

Part 3) Why does the poet choose to use personification in this book? What other literary devices are used? Why are they used?

Essay Topic 2

Personification is an important theme found in each poem.

Part 1) Why is personification an important theme? How are the insects personified? Why does the poet choose to use personification in this poem? Is this effective? Why or why not?

Part 2) What different personalities are found in the insects? How can each of these personalities be related to humans? How is human emotion also important in these poems? Which poems focus the most on human emotion? Why? How is this connected to the behaviors of the insects?

Part 3) What other literary devices are used in this book? When and why is each literary device used? How do these literary devices help the poet make the poems engaging and purposeful?

Essay Topic 3

Famous authors' names are mentioned in "Book Lice."

Part 1) How do these famous authors' names get mentioned in this poem? Why might the poet have decided to include these famous authors in this poem? Does this enhance the poem in any way? Why or why not?

Part 2) What information might be helpful prior to reading this poem? Why? How might this information effect one's ability to understand "Book Lice" and the differences between these two different lice?

Part 3) How important is it to learn about famous authors and artists? Explain. Would the author of this book agree with you? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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