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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. Where does the narrator say the “sharp-hoof’d moose” comes from in Section 14?

2. The narrator describes “the little one” as sleeping where in the opening of Section 8?

3. The narrator combines the word “respiration” with what word in Section 2?

4. Who does the narrator ask in Section 13, “What is it that you express in your eyes?”

5. Who does the “red girl” marry in Section 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. For whom does Whitman describe playing victory marches in Section 18?

2. How does the poet relate the quality of “aroma” and of the air in Section 2?

3. How is “the lunatic” described in Section 15 of the poem?

4. What does Walt Whitman praise and celebrate in Section 23 of the poem?

5. How does the poet’s delineation of “self” evolve in Section 5 of the poem?

6. What foreshadowing is exhibited in Section 1 of the poem? How is the universal “I” set up in this section?

7. What imagery is the focus of Section 11 of the poem?

8. How does Section 13 begin? What is the focus of this section of the poem?

9. How is “the negro” described in Section 13 of the poem?

10. What “characters” does the poet embody in Section 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Whitman’s exploration of the sense of touch in “Song of Myself.” How does the poet describe the touch of others? What symbols and motifs examine touch? What sexual descriptions does Whitman use regarding the sense of touch?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the War of 1812 as illustrated through the imagery from Sections 35 and 36 of “Song of Myself.” What characters does the poet describe? What is the setting? How does the poet describe the aftermath of the battle? Do you believe this is a realistic depiction of warfare?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the theme of “life and death” in Song of Myself.” Why does the poet consider the act of dying to be “lucky”? How is Death equated and compared with Life? What metaphors of death and life does the poet use to illustrate his points?

(see the answer keys)

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