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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Book 1, The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke : Chapter 5, The Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In which poem is it relevant that religion has changed since Greek mythology?
(a) "Black Cat."
(b) "Orpheus."
(c) "Schwarze Katze."
(d) "Archaic Torso of Apollo."

2. In Book 1, Chapter 5, what does Rilke intentionally use to describe a short scene from real life?
(a) Irony.
(b) Diction.
(c) Symbolism.
(d) Repetition.

3. Which poem has the following line: "Then all at once the messenger is there"?
(a) "Alcestis."
(b) "The Flamingos."
(c) "Black Cat."
(d) "Archaic Torso of Apollo."

4. What is "Requiem for a Friend" about?
(a) Fear when a baby is born.
(b) Love for a best friend.
(c) Fear after somebody has died.
(d) Failure to save somebody.

5. Which adjective best describes both of the poems about the human condition in Book 1, Chapter 2?
(a) Meaningless.
(b) Unintentional.
(c) Complex.
(d) Short.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Rilke feel at the beginning of "I am the Anxious One"?

2. In the poem in which the narrator is lying in bed, how many flights above ground is he or she?

3. According to Rilke's poem, how did the prodigal son grow up?

4. When the narrative character speaks to women in the streets, where do they speak from?

5. According to Rilke, what do poems written in one's youth lack?

(see the answer key)

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