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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. Whitman says it is a painful thing to ___________ someone to excess, yet the rewards are great.

2. Whitman says that he was offering too long to feed his soul with __________, which was clearly not a good idea..

3. To what state does Whitman promise to know very well after traveling to it?

4. With another man, Whitman writes, he dilates and fuses the immortal laws and makes himself by them the _______ unto himself.

5. It is the engineer's joy to go with the _____________ in his days.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Whitman state about the idea of what happens after death, though he is still unsure?

2. Why does Whitman warn the readers about the dangers of religion and those who are enamored of it?

3. What is the main reason why Whitman says that he enjoys Manhattan so much during his travels there?

4. What does Whitman have to say about the pain of loving a man or a woman in great excess?

5. What parts of the United States structure does Whitman have a lot of respect for?

6. What is so strange about the idea that Whitman is so fervently patriotic in the poems he has written? When was Whitman born in relation to the 'birth' of the United States?

7. What is Whitman's stance on how he views individual people and who they are, an opinion which is repeated frequently?

8. What does Whitman describe when he is talking about the experiences of his body in relation to another's body?

9. Where was Whitman born, and how does that place affect him?

10. What does Whitman try to do for himself, instead of being completely engrossed by one belief system?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author is also sure that the wonderful United States is prosperous now, but that it will encounter a time of problems.

Part 1: Why do you think Whitman wants to point out that the U.S. is going to have troubles in the future?

Part 2: Do you think that Whitman was correct in his prediction?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman wanted to discuss the idea of a possible unkind fate in the future?

Essay Topic 2

Whitman could be described as being appreciative of people, in all of their forms.

Part 1: Why do you think writers are so appreciative of people and their many forms?

Part 2: How do you think people are done a service by being described by poets and writers?

Part 3: Do you think people are the most important sources of inspiration for writers?

Essay Topic 3

Whitman seems to have a very strong sense of patriotism and allegiance to the United States.

Part 1: Did you find it surprising that Whitman was so patriotic? Why or why not?

Part 2: Do you think it's important to have a strong sense of patriotism as a creative person?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman felt so strongly about the United States that he had to include poems about patriotism?

(see the answer keys)

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