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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. How many sections is "The Death Baby" divided into?

2. Who is "Mother and Daughter" addressed to?

3. How many parts is The Book of Folly divided into?

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

5. How many poems are in the first part of The Book of Folly?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Sexton view her poetry in relation to her faith?

3. How is The Book of Folly set up?

4. What does "Mary's Song" say about Sexton?

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

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

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

8. Why does The Awful Rowing Toward God begin with the poem "Rowing"?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How do the poems in Posthumously Published Work fit into the larger scope of Sexton's poems? How do they stand out?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Sexton's choice of fairy tales as source material in Transformations as they relate to common themes in her poetry.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the style of Anne Sexton's poetry using specific examples to support your claims.

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