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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. What does Oliver say is NOT praying in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?
(a) Observing.
(b) Witnessing with the eyes.
(c) Seeing what has not been seen.
(d) Seeing and noticing.

2. What were the feet of the animal compared to in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?
(a) Sand.
(b) Butter.
(c) The Sun.
(d) Flowers.

3. 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.

4. How does the editor describe the thought put into these poems?
(a) Effervescent.
(b) Exuberant.
(c) Microscopic.
(d) Omniscient.

5. What kind of words does Oliver hope to find while writing in Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones?
(a) Meaningful words.
(b) Common, but amazing words.
(c) Doubled words.
(d) Ripe words.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Oliver try to avoid awkwardness in as she is writing?

2. According to Oliver, what is the question mark's bold sister?

3. What is the length of most of Oliver's poems in this collection?

4. What belongs to the animal in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?

5. How does Oliver state we must pray in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that comes First?

(see the answer key)

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