View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which poet wrote "The Gas Station?"
(a) Lorde.
(b) Oliver.
(c) Williams.
(d) Wright.

2. Jorie Graham was raised in which country?
(a) Canada.
(b) Pakistan.
(c) US.
(d) Italy.

3. Which word is not used to describe Ellen Bryant Voigt's work?
(a) Ironic.
(b) Instinctive.
(c) Non-denominational.
(d) Moralistic.

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

5. Michael S. Harper created his work by combining autobiography and ____.
(a) Slang.
(b) Myth.
(c) Fiction.
(d) Science.

Short Answer Questions

1. Mary Oliver is considered to be one of the best ____ poets.

2. Gary Snyder focuses a lot of his work around which topic?

3. Charles Wright wrote an homage to which famous painter?

4. Which of the following is a main theme in Amy Clampitt's work?

5. Who wrote "The Mad Potter?"

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. Where was Charles Simic born? How did his youth affect his poetry? What themes are often seen in Simic's work? What technique is often used by Simic?

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

4. In which regions and countries did Irving Feldman live? What are some of the characteristics of Feldman's work? Name three people that appear in Feldman's poetry.

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. Who was the biggest influence in Sylvia Plath's life? When did they meet? What type of work is most often related to Plath? Plath is often grouped with which poets?

7. 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?

8. How does Ellen Bryant Voigt compare poetry to music? Why does Voigt make this comparison? In which part of the poem is the comparison most evident?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,067 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample