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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 does Rilke refer to at the end of sonnet II-8?

2. Who is the poem "Ariel" named after?

3. How many parts is "Uncollected Poems" divided into?

4. In Rilke's description of supplication, from whom does the man expect to receive assistance?

5. In the poem about faces, what do vast numbers of things appear to be?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the format of the lines say about Rilke and his poetry in Book 1, Chapter 6?

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

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

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

6. Describe the elegy about angels.

7. Describe the "diaphaonous girl."

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

9. What is "The Bird Feeders" about?

10. What is the difference between a poem and prose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

What is the difference between poem and prose? How does Rilke use both? Which is a better technique for Rilke, in your opinion, and why?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Orpheus is so important to Rilke? How do you know that Orpheus is so important to Rilke? What literary devices are used in Rilke's references to Orpheus? What does the importance of Orpheus to Rilke say about poet?

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