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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. The child and her father are looking in the _____ at the autumn skin in "On the Beach at Night."

2. ___________ asks the soul to follow into an unknown territory without a guide and without a map.

3. What color is the halo in the sky, drooping upon the sea in the description of the water?

4. Whitman asks in his poems who may have learned the ______________ of the lessons that he has to teach.

5. Where does Whitman stop in order to satisfy his curiosity about what is inside?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. How is the plowman used in reference and as a metaphor for death in Whitman's poem?

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

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

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

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

9. Whose philosophies does Whitman respect without any exceptions, according to the writing?

10. Why does Whitman pay homage to the young pioneers who forged ahead to find homes for themselves?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whitman's writing seems to be filled with wonder and awe at the world and all of its inhabitants.

Part 1: Why do you think Whitman is so in awe of the world?

Part 2: How do you feel about the world and about the creatures within it?

Part 3: Do you think that you can cultivate awe and wonder in the world? Or is it inherent?

Essay Topic 2

Whitman also has a close relationship with nature, talking about being naked with it and being enveloped by it.

Part 1: Why do you think so many poets have such a strong connection with nature?

Part 2: Do you think the nature can be emotionally engaging? Or do you look at nature as something without emotion?

Part 3: How do you think observing nature can affect the way poems are written?

Essay Topic 3

Whitman talks a lot about the idea of democracy and how it differs today from the way it began.

Part 1: How do you see democracy working in today's world?

Part 2: Do you think democracy is an effective system of making decisions and governing people?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman wants to talk about democracy in his poems?

(see the answer keys)

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