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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 is the new element introduced in "Requiem for a Friend"?

2. Which poem has the following line: "You must change your life"?

3. What is the name of the last poem in Book 1, Chapter 3?

4. Which animal's motions are most notable through Rilke's poems?

5. Who is described as being "like a thief climbing in my window"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the differences between the poems in Book 1, Chapter 2 and the poems in Book 1, Chapter 1.

2. How does Rilke describe death in "Requiem for a Friend"?

3. What is the significance of the title "Requiem for a Friend"?

4. How does Rilke describe the gazelle in the poem in which it is the subject?

5. Choose one poem from Book 1, Chapter 2 and dissect the meaning.

6. What is the significance of the diction in "Buddha in Glory"?

7. What is the significance of the women standing in their doorways in "Requiem for a Friend"?

8. What is the message found in "I find you, Lord, in all Things and in all"?

9. Why is it significant for Rilke to write about the sun in "Archaic Torso of Apollo"?

10. How does the author show genuine emotion in poetry, especially in Book 1, Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Rilke use allusion in his poems? Why do you think he does this? How does Rilke mix allusion with creativity? Is it effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

How would you describe Rilke's poetic skills? Are there other poets or authors you would compare him to? Why or why not? Is there a poet or author that he is extremely different from?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the panther, gazelle, and swan poems to each other. What are the differences in message, literary devices, and rhyming techniques? Why are these devices important to the poems? What do they say about Rilke?

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