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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 which poem is there an allusion to "The Tempest"?

2. What is "For the Sake of a Single Poem" about?

3. Which of the following is most unique to Rilke?

4. In Rilke's poem, who did the prodigal son feel bound by?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is "The Bird Feeders" about?

2. Describe "To Music."

3. How did the editors connect praise and grief when putting together Rilke's sonnets?

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

5. Which elegy is the most emotional and why?

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

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

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

9. What is "Faces" about?

10. Describe the elegy about angels.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the "diaphonous girl" represent to Rilke? What part of Rilke does it symbolize? Why does he write about her? What role does she play in Rilke's poems?

Essay Topic 2

How does religion influence Rilke? Is it positive or negative as an influence? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Of the poems in the book, which is your favorite? Why? What literary devices set the tone for that poem? Why is this pleasing?

(see the answer keys)

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