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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. When was Book 1, Chapter 1 written?

2. What is the annexation of Bohemia compared to in the introduction?

3. Which of the following people does Rilke paint a picture of through poetry?

4. What is Apollo the god of in Greek mythology?

5. Which family member does Rilke dedicate a poem to?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is it important to know background information about Rainer Marie Rilke before reading the poems?

3. Why is the "City of Time" a complex translation?

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

5. What is the classical theme that Rilke presents in both "Alcestis" and "Archaic Torso of Apollo"?

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

7. How does the tone change in "I am the Anxious One"?

8. Describe the rhyming scheme of the poem in which the gazelle is the subject.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the tone, message, and literary devices used in the poem "Requiem Friend." How do these elements work together to create a dramatic and emotionally-charged poem?

Essay Topic 2

What is Rilke's voice? How does he achieve this voice using literary devices and subjects? Describe the voice in one of Rilke's poems and how he achieves it specifically.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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