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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 Oliver observe at the end of Work Sometimes?

2. What does Oliver try to write most of her poems about?

3. What does Oliver call most of her poems?

4. What kind of hands does Oliver hope to write her poetry with?

5. What is the subject of Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones?

Short Essay Questions

1. In The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First, what does Mary Oliver state the real method of praying should be?

2. What parts of grammar does Oliver say she wants to cherish in Everything, and why?

3. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what does Oliver ask about a seed grain?

4. What did Oliver compare the feet of the hawk to in The Real Prayers are Not the Words, but the Attention that Comes First?

5. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what is personified in the last lines?

6. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what does Oliver say about the pond?

7. In Everything, what kind of words does Oliver say she wants to avoid in her poetry, and what examples of good words does she give?

8. In The Measure, how does Oliver say the turtle came to choose its course of travel for the day Oliver saw it?

9. In Mysteries, Four of the Simple Ones, what does Oliver ask about a catbird?

10. How did Oliver feel at the end of Work Sometimes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Religion was a theme that was touched on a number of times in this book. Where did this theme appear, and what are some of the different ways this theme was introduced?

Essay Topic 2

Laughter and happiness are common themes found in this book. Where do these come into play, and how are the poems with those themes different from the others in this book?

Essay Topic 3

What is the main message being sent in Work Sometimes, and how is this poem different from the other poems in the first section of this book?

(see the answer keys)

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