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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. In the poem "Archaic Torso of Apollo," the poet is most similar to __________.

2. Which of the following is a theme in "I am the Anxious One"?

3. Who answered questions on Apollo's behalf?

4. What is a result of the discrepancy in translation in "I am the Anxious One"?

5. What name is used in Rilke's poetry that has been passed down through Greek tragedies?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why is the first line in the poem about Alcestis significant?

4. How does Rilke honor ancient Greeks?

5. What does Rilke proclaim in "I am the Anxious One"?

6. What is the tone of "Requiem for a Friend"?

7. What does Rilke seem to think about the abnormal women he dedicates a poem to in Book 1, Chapter 3?

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

9. How does the author change from the first stanza to the second in "I am the Anxious One"?

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

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

What themes and symbols seem to be significant in each of Rilke's poems? How do they set the tone for the poems?

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