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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What type of conflict is present in "The Civil War"?
(a) Person vs. society.
(b) Person vs. person.
(c) Person vs. self.
(d) Person vs. nature.

2. Who is The Book of Folly dedicated to?
(a) Linda.
(b) Phillip.
(c) Joy.
(d) Gregor.

3. "Words" is a poem about the ______ of language.
(a) Inappropriateness.
(b) Power.
(c) Inadequacy.
(d) Beauty.

4. What Biblical story is retold in "Jesus Walking"?
(a) The Israelites wandering in the desert.
(b) Christ walking on water.
(c) The temptation of Christ by the Devil.
(d) The Crucifixion.

5. Whose full name is included in "Sweeney"?
(a) The author's husband's.
(b) The author's.
(c) The author's daughter's.
(d) The author's mother's.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is represented as a pair of applauding hands in "Two Hands"?

2. Who is pursuing the speaker in "Oh"?

3. Where does the speaker find the gods in the poem "Gods"?

4. Whose death does the author recount in "The Death Baby"?

5. How many poems are in the collection "O Ye Tongues"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sexton end The Awful Rowing Toward God with the poem "The Rowing Endeth"?

2. Explain "The Death Baby." What does this poem say about Sexton's view of death?

3. Explain Sexton's retelling of the Biblical story of Jonah and the whale in "Making a Living".

4. What is the main theme of The Book of Folly? Is the theme of The Book of Folly treated the same as in her other work?

5. Explain the premise of Transformations, and explain the title.

6. How is The Book of Folly set up?

7. How does Sexton deal with feminism in Transformations?

8. What inspired The Awful Rowing Toward God?

9. What is the purpose of the poem "The Gold Key"?

10. Compare and contrast "The Death of Fathers" with "Angels of the Love Affair."

(see the answer keys)

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