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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 5 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What adjective is used to describe the chickens?
2. Which of the following describes the rhythm of the poem?
3. How are the lines of the poem arranged?
4. How many sentences does the poem contain?
5. According to line 7, where are the chickens located relative to the wheelbarrow?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is the surface meaning of this poem?
2. Describe the diction of this poem.
3. What is the most reasonable interpretation of this poem's setting, and why?
4. What are the images presented in this poem?
5. Describe the poem's form.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Write an essay that affirms, refutes, or qualifies the following statement:
Objectivist poetry is inherently meaningless, and "The Red Wheelbarrow" is a clear example of this.
In your essay, offer a clear and accurate explanation of Objectivist poetry and its characteristics. Then, use "The Red Wheelbarrow" as a case study that demonstrates your perspective on whether Objectivist poems can be said to communicate ideas about the world or whether any meaning they contain is accidental, like a photograph taken by a robot. Be sure to cite any quoted evidence and all evidence from outside sources in MLA format.
Essay Topic 2
Is there any real significance to the colors used in "The Red Wheelbarrow"? Consider the Objectivist nature of the poem. How does this philosophical stance make it unlikely that Williams consciously intended the colors to be symbolic? Can text have symbolic content even when an author does not intend it to? Write an essay that takes and defends a position on how Objectivism sheds light on both Williams's intended use of the colors red and white and their effect on the reader. Support your argument with evidence drawn from the poem, and be sure to cite any quoted evidence and outside sources in MLA format.
Essay Topic 3
When Williams wrote this poem, he did not title it. It was merely given a number ("XXII") that indicated its position in the anthology. Some critics argue that giving it the title "The Red Wheelbarrow" undermines Williams's intentions. Write an essay that takes a position regarding how this title does or does not change the emphasis that Williams intended to create through the poem's rhythm, syntax, and linebreak. Support your arguments with evidence drawn from throughout the poem, and be sure to cite any quoted evidence in MLA format.
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This section contains 570 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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