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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 does Whitman say that he will expose when he runs his furrow with his plough and press his spade through the sod?

2. Who are the tan faced children who follow well in order and get their weapons ready?

3. Who is singing the song, a husky song as the main character in the poem walks on the beach at night alone?

4. What are the felons wearing when they come into the courtroom as Whitman watches them out of curiosity?

5. Where is the good place in Boston where Whitman wants to see the show from in the morning?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is an old man in the poem "Prayers of Columbus" too full of woe, according to Whitman's poem?

2. Why does the young man ring the ocean bell when he is steering the boat during the treacherous weather?

3. What does Whitman question about the world when he sees the felons being shackled and held in the court?

4. What does Whitman wish he had the chance to do for the United States as it makes its impact in the world?

5. What is the procession of the people into the theater, one of many on Broadway, used as a metaphor for in "A Broadway Pageant"?

6. To what are the tides of the ocean compared to in life, according to the poems of Whitman?

7. Why is it sad when one of the birds in a couple dies and the other one does not know it?

8. Who are the phantoms to which Whitman refers in his poems about love being lost?

9. To whom does Whitman compare the country of old Ireland, in his poem to this land?

10. How is the meteor used as a metaphor in the poem called, "Year of Meteors," which Whitman has written?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whitman is clear that his sexuality is not tied to loving one person or one sort of person. This fluid description can cause issues for some readers.

Part 1: Why do you think Whitman doesn't want to connect himself to just one sort of love partner?

Part 2: Do you think it's possible for sexuality to be as fluid as Whitman describes it to be?

Part 3: How do you feel about the idea of sexuality? It is more rigid for you or do you agree with Whitman's ideas?

Essay Topic 2

The overt sexual language of Whitman can surprise some people as this does not seem to be something which is expected.

Part 1: Did you expect to find so much sexual language and description in this collection of poems?

Part 2: Did the sexual themes detract from your enjoyment of Whitman's work?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman felt he needed to include so much sexual poetry in this collection?

Essay Topic 3

The author also repeats the idea that one should live in the now rather than dwelling on the past or on the future.

Part 1: Why is it so important to live in the now, in the present time and place?

Part 2: Do you think you tend to live in the now or do you live in other time periods?

Part 3: What might be some obstacles to living in the now? What sorts of problems may this way of living cause?

(see the answer keys)

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