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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the case of those poems with no titles, what is used as a reference?
(a) The last line.
(b) The first line.
(c) The narrator's name.
(d) The subject.

2. In "The Bird Feeders," the poet emphasizes the value of __________.
(a) Bird feeders.
(b) Women.
(c) Children.
(d) Schools.

3. In I-25, how does Rilke refer to a female character?
(a) Angry girl.
(b) Dear girl.
(c) Content girl.
(d) Frivolous girl.

4. In what years were the "Uncollected Poems" written?
(a) 1990-1995.
(b) 1910-1916.
(c) 1926-1928.
(d) 1913-1918.

5. What marks each section of poems in "Uncollected Poems"?
(a) Letters.
(b) Roman numerals.
(c) Numbers.
(d) Words.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Ariel" which stanza is the longest?

2. What is sonnet II-4 about?

3. What is the name of the poem following "Ibsen"?

4. What is the subject of sonnet II-8?

5. When Orpheus is called in one of the sonnets, who gathers to listen in silence?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rilke mean when he refers to "pampered favorites"?

2. Describe "To Holderlin."

3. Who does the invisible 'you' reference in the first poem in "Sonnets to Orpheus"?

4. Why do you think that only some poems have titles?

5. What does Rilke mean by "Every angel is terrifying"?

6. What is the distinction between a poem and an elegy?

7. What types of fears does Rilke speak to in "Fears"?

8. Describe the "diaphaonous girl."

9. Describe Orpheus as Rilke describes him in his sonnets.

10. How does Rilke create a dramatic tone in his sonnets?

(see the answer keys)

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