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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. When did Herbert Huncke meet William S. Burroughs?

2. In what year was William S. Burroughs born?

3. What excerpt of Gregory Corso's questions what it means to be Beat and if there is even such a thing?

4. Where did Neal Cassady grow up?

5. Who is the author of the poem "Plus Ca Change"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is John Clellon Holmes, and what is his impact on the Beat Generation?

2. What political references are made in the poem "America"?

3. What political allusions are used in "One Thousand Fearful Words for Fidel Castro"?

4. Describe the subject of "Visions of Cody."

5. How do Cassady and Kerouac differ on their perspective of Cassady's childhood?

6. Who is Neal Cassady? How is he introduced in the text?

7. What biographical facts are mixed up in Kerouac's "On the Road"? What details are omitted?

8. What is Ginsberg's subject in "A Supermarket in America"?

9. Describe the symbolism in "On the Road" as it relates to the theme of American values. What is an example of Kerouac's metaphor of America?

10. Describe John Clellon Holmes' writing style. How does it compare with Kerouac's?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Lawrence Ferlinghetti's role within the Beat Generation. Where is Ferlinghetti based? What is his style of writing?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss and describe the world events which directly or indirectly instigated the Beat Generation. How do the members of the Beat Generation view mainstream society? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the Beat icon Neal Cassady. When was he born and when did he die? What was his family like? How did he meet the other Beats? What was the general opinion of Cassady?

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