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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. Who is the author of the poem "The Canticle of Jack Kerouac"?

2. Which poem of Amiri Baraka's describes the black music scene in Newark in the early 1960s?

3. Who is "Mr. Dullness" likely a reference to in the poem "A Dim View of Berkeley in the Spring"?

4. At which college did John Wieners study poetry?

5. Which of the founders of Russian anarchism is referred to in the poem "April Fool Birthday Poem for Grandpa"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the author and subject of "Poet of the Streets."

2. Who is Ray Bremser? What is the subject of "Funny Lotus Blues..."?

3. What is "Highway Ninety-Nine"?

4. Describe the irony of Peter Orlovsky's "Lepers Cry."

5. How did the term "Beat" evolve into the late 50s and early 60s?

6. Who is Philip Lamantia and what works of his are in the anthology?

7. What is the subject of "Kentucky Ham"?

8. What artistic and literary allusions are in "The Canticle of Jack Kerouac"?

9. What literary or mythical references are made in "The Night Is a Space of White Marble"?

10. What political allusions does Diane DiPrima make in "April Fool Birthday Poem for Grandpa"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the New York School of Poetry? When did it originate? Who were the key members? How does it relate to the Beat Generation?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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?

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