View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "To Holderlin", which pair of words describes the two distinct times in life?
(a) Fame and fortune.
(b) Joy and trial.
(c) Anger and happiness.
(d) Gratitude and shame.

2. Who is Rilke describing with the following line: "Praising is what matters! He was summoned for that"?
(a) Hermes.
(b) Apollo.
(c) Orpheus.
(d) Zeus.

3. Who was the Greek mistress of the elegiac verse form?
(a) Elegais.
(b) Elega.
(c) Legise.
(d) Elegis.

4. What is the name of the poem that suggests that even going back to ancient times, there was hustle and bustle?
(a) "Straining so hard...."
(b) "To Holderlin."
(c) "To Music."
(d) "Ariel."

5. In the third poem in "Sonnet to Orpheus," who are the three basic characters?
(a) The song, the god, the mortal man.
(b) The god, the man, the animal.
(c) The animal, the song, the mortal man.
(d) The diaphonous girl, the god, the song.

6. In the first elegy, what happens to the images as the poem continues?
(a) They become more reluctant to reveal information to the reader.
(b) They become less descriptive.
(c) They become more confusing and deluded.
(d) They grow more spacious and remain descriptive.

7. Which of the following is lacking in Rilke's elegies?
(a) Structure.
(b) Diction.
(c) Figurative language.
(d) Rhyme.

8. In Rilke's description of supplication, from whom does the man expect to receive assistance?
(a) An ancient Greek god.
(b) An angry god.
(c) A mysterious woman.
(d) Sent angels.

9. Book 1, Chapter 7 is dedicated to _________.
(a) An ancient Greek God.
(b) The elegy.
(c) A man Rilke didn't know very well.
(d) A woman named Maria.

10. What does Rilke disregard in writing his elegies?
(a) Restraint.
(b) Regard for syntax and sentence structure.
(c) Poetic license.
(d) Expertise.

11. In the second stanza of the first elegy in Book 1, Chapter 7, "A ____ rolled toward you."
(a) Wave.
(b) Springtime.
(c) God.
(d) Wheel.

12. What does Rilke refer to as "pampered favorites"?
(a) Women who can work from home.
(b) Genuine emotions.
(c) Scenes of the natural world.
(d) Children who attend private school.

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

14. In the elegy about angels, "Every angel is ______."
(a) Demonic.
(b) Terrifying.
(c) Angry.
(d) Passive.

15. In Rilke's poem, who did the prodigal son feel bound by?
(a) Those who hated him.
(b) Those who loved him.
(c) Those who respected him.
(d) Those who disparaged him publicly.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the poet become frustrated by in "Sonnets to Orpheus"?

2. Which of the following feelings is not experienced by the poet in the first elegy of Book 1, Chapter 7?

3. What topic does the first elegy introduce?

4. Each elegy is named with ___________________.

5. How many parts is "Uncollected Poems" divided into?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 443 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample