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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the poets was born in the south but uses a northern perspective?
(a) Voigt.
(b) Palmer.
(c) Gluck.
(d) Ryan.

2. What was Yusef Komunyakaa's birth name?
(a) Josef Brown.
(b) Yuri Williams.
(c) Seth Lindstrom.
(d) Robert Korb.

3. Harper was born in which city?
(a) San Diego.
(b) Boise.
(c) Brooklyn.
(d) Fairfax.

4. Anne Sexton wrote a poem based on which famous painting?
(a) The Madonna and Child.
(b) The Last Supper.
(c) Starry Night.
(d) Mona Lisa.

5. Edward Hirsch currently works as the head of which prestigious organization?
(a) Pulitzer Prize Committee.
(b) Guggenheim Foundation.
(c) National Endowment for the Arts.
(d) Library of Congress.

Short Answer Questions

1. Yusef Komunyakaa's father was born in which country?

2. Which of the following was not a job held by Amy Clampitt?

3. Rita Dove's work often blends history with which type of poetry?

4. Which of the following words best describes Sharon Olds' work?

5. Which of the following was not one of the jobs held by Gary Snyder?

Short Essay Questions

1. Jay Wright had a way of combining facts about various cultures and relating them to his heritage. Discuss Wright's heritage and how he celebrated the accomplishments of others.

2. What themes are most often seen in Gary Snyder's work? What does Snyder credit with helping him focus on the inner world?

3. Who is Robert Pinsky's main influence? What is Robert Pinsky's goal regarding his poetry? What topic most interests Pinsky? How does Pinsky get his point across?

4. How did Audre Lorde often identify herself? Where was Lorde born? What was Lorde's style?

5. How does Michael S. Harper incorporate his heritage into his work? What was Harper's biggest influence? What themes commonly appear in his poetry? List some of Harper's poems that appear in this book.

6. What unique gift is expressed in Philip Levine's work? What prompted this style and choice of theme? What are some of Levine's poems included in his section?

7. Examine the theme and meaning contained in Rita Dove's "Adolescence - II." How does the theme link to Dove's other work?

8. How is Sharon Olds categorized as a poet? What words are best used to describe Olds' work? What are some of Olds' most common themes?

9. What prompted Anne Sexton to begin writing poetry? What was Sexton's style? What are some characteristics of Sexton's style?

10. Discuss Louise Gluck's poems that use a garden as the main theme. Which poems reflect this theme? Analyze at least one of the poems. Did Gluck write similar poems that are not included in this book?

(see the answer keys)

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