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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 is similar about each elegy in Book 1, Chapter 7?

2. What is sonnet II-4 about?

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

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What is "Faces" about?

2. Describe "To Holderlin."

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

4. Why do you think that only some poems have titles?

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

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

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

8. Describe the elegy about angels.

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

10. Describe "To Music."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What emotive language does Rilke use? What are other examples of emotive language that you might find in daily life? What is Rilke's most emotive poem? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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.

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?

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