2. In "The Earth Falls Down," what is the speaker trying to place blame for?
(a) Her mental illness.
(b) Her sister's death.
(c) The world's problems.
(d) Her mother's death.

3. Who solves the mystery of "Twelve Dancing Princesses?"?
(a) A servant.
(b) A soldier.
(c) The king.
(d) A prince.

4. What are the maiden's replacement hands made of in "The Maiden Without Hands"?
(a) Silver.
(b) Bronze.
(c) Gold.
(d) Wood.

5. What does the building represent in "Riding the Elevator Into the Sky"?
(a) Faith.
(b) Human struggles.
(c) Human consciousness.
(d) Reincarnation.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does "Doctors" criticize?

2. What poem personifies death as a hurried traveler?

3. What kind of poems are the collection "O Ye Tongues"?

4. In "For Mr. Death Who Stands With His Door Open", the speaker personifies ______ and ______.

5. Where is the author at the beginning of "The Death Baby"?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why might Sexton's poem "Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)" have special significance for her?

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

4. Where does Sexton search for God in The Awful Rowing Toward God? Does she find him?

5. Other than showing Sexton's emotional and mental instability, how is The Death Notebooks different in the arc of her work? Give at least two examples.

6. How is The Book of Folly set up?

7. What is the source material for "The Jesus Papers?" How does Sexton use this source material?

8. Why do so many of the poems in The Death Notebooks deal with spirituality and Christianity?

9. What inspired The Awful Rowing Toward God?

10. How does Sexton deal with Christianity in "The Jesus Papers"?

(see the answer keys)

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