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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. How are the poems in "Sonnets to Orpheus" (Book 1, Chapter 8) named?

2. Who is Rilke describing with the following line: "Praising is what matters! He was summoned for that"?

3. According to Rilke's poem, how did the prodigal son grow up?

4. According to Rilke, Orpheus continues to live on in ___________.

5. Which of the following best describes the "diaphonous girl"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Rilke give in to tradition while writing, as exemplified in his elegies?

2. Describe the subject of the poem "Ariel."

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

4. Describe the "diaphaonous girl."

5. What is "The Prodigal Son" about?

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

7. What is the message behind "For the Sake of a Single Poem"?

8. Describe "To Holderlin."

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

10. What allusions does Rilke use in his poems, especially in the poem "Ariel"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

How does Rilke use tone to convey a message? What literary techniques does he use to contribute to tone and message?

Essay Topic 3

What are the consequences of translating Rilke's poems from German to English? What is lost in translation? Is anything gained? Why or why not? Give one specific example.

(see the answer keys)

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