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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through New Poems (2004 - 2005).

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Oliver come to a better understanding of human nature?
(a) She observes the ocean tides.
(b) She meditates.
(c) She looks to non-human examples.
(d) She talks to people of different ages.

2. What does Oliver try to write most of her poems about?
(a) Human concerns.
(b) Political needs.
(c) Psychological problems.
(d) Literature.

3. What did the rain in Work Sometimes do to the flowers in the yard?
(a) Killed them.
(b) Made them shine.
(c) Made them fragrant.
(d) Brought them out of the earth.

4. Why did Oliver choose the simple titles for her poems?
(a) To make her thoughts obscure.
(b) To leave the interpretation open.
(c) To take the guesswork away from the reader.
(d) To guide the reader.

5. What are most of the poems in this collection about?
(a) Plants and animals.
(b) Education.
(c) Literature.
(d) People.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Oliver like to assign to inanimate objects in her poems?

2. How do the characters in Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones feel about the events in the poem?

3. What does Oliver think people should pay more attention to in life?

4. In Everything, what are we told to do in order to truly grasp the idea of poetry?

5. What were the feet of the animal compared to in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?

(see the answer key)

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