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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 is the powerful machine which is moving through the snow with its vapor-pennants tinged with delicate purple?

2. What causes Whitman to wander noiselessly and to bend over other sleepers, wandering and confused?

3. For what time of the year does Whitman write a warble, in the form of a poem for in the "Autumn Rivulets" section?

4. What are NOT one of the images of people who sleep well, which Whitman includes in his poems for comparison?

5. What does Whitman beckon to sound clearer in and through the atmosphere?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Whitman ask the soul to do in the poems about addressing the idea of mortality?

2. What is the lesson of the ebb of the ocean, according to the poem of Whitman?

3. What does Whitman point out happens no matter how many advancements science has made?

4. What are some of the signs of spring that Whitman lists in the poem, "Warble for Lilac-Time"?

5. To whom does Whitman appear to give his spirit to, though this person is never mentioned by name in a poem?

6. What does the poem "Passage to India" have to share about this country and about its progress in the world?

7. What is an endless source of inspiration for poetry, according to the poems which the poet has created?

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

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

10. How does Whitman describe Paumanok in the spring when he writes the poem "Sea-Drift"?

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

Whitman believes that no matter what science can uncover, the soul will supersede it.

Part 1: Why do you think Whitman believes the soul is the most important part of the world experience?

Part 2: Why can't science be bigger than the experience of the soul?

Part 3: How do you feel about the importance of the soul versus the importance of science?

Essay Topic 3

While Whitman also addresses a number of metaphysical issues, he also talks about God and Jesus.

Part 1: Do you think that metaphysical and Christian ideas can coexist?

Part 2: How do you think Whitman feels about the idea of religion in general?

Part 3: How do you you feel about faith, spirituality, and religion? Are they all connected in some way? Do they have to be?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 710 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample