4. The poem entitled "forgiveness" uses which academic subject as a method of exposing the frequency with which young women experience sexual violence?

5. To whom does Anderson address the poem entitled "innocence" (192)?

Short Essay Questions

1. How long after Anderson was raped did she begin her high school career?

2. What list does Anderson provide within the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206) and for what purpose does she include this list?

3. How does Anderson go about creating an interdisciplinary work of literature within the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206)?

4. What quality of icebergs does Anderson liken to her move to Washington, D.C. in the poem entitled “calving iceberg” (138) and why?

5. What two elements does Anderson contrast within the poem “triptych” (210) and for what purpose?

6. How does the theme of class difference arise within the poem entitled “sweet-and-sour tea” (142)?

7. What is one suggestion that Anderson provides in relation to how young women should be instructed in a different manner than the ways in which they are currently taught?

8. Whom does Anderson credit with teaching her everything she knows about (170) her “responsibility to [her] readers”?

9. What instruction does Anderson give to the reader at the end of the poem entitled “forgiveness” (206) and what is her purpose for doing so?

10. How does Anderson instill suspense into a particular moment within her poetry memoir?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the ways in which the water motif appears within Anderson’s poetry memoir SHOUT. What messages are being communicated to the reader through the use of this motif?