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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 following was not one of the jobs held by Gary Snyder?
(a) Seaman.
(b) Logger.
(c) Ditch digger.
(d) Forester.

2. Robert Pinsky studied at which university?
(a) Tulane.
(b) Notre Dame.
(c) Rutgers.
(d) Butler.

3. What was the occupation of Kay Ryan's father?
(a) Gas station attendant.
(b) Railroad engineer.
(c) Well driller.
(d) Salesman.

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

5. Which poet works at Johns Hopkins University?
(a) Hacker.
(b) Clampitt.
(c) Smith.
(d) Olds.

Short Answer Questions

1. In which year did Anne Sexton win the Pulitzer Prize?

2. Which poet wrote about the "domestic self?"

3. In what year was Robert Haas named Poet Laureate?

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

5. Galway Kinnell wrote about which of the following topics?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. What type of work did Richard Howard produce? Examine Richard Howard's fascination with the figures of 19th century high society. Also list some of the poems contained in his section.

3. 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?

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

5. Examine Kay Ryan's opinion on inevitable change. What point is Ryan attempting to make?

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. Examine the theme of acceptance and the passing of time as it appears in Jorie Graham's work.

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

10. Discuss Amy Clampitt's early career. What are some of Clampitt's themes?

(see the answer keys)

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