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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. Where are Neruda and Matilde in Sonnet C?

2. In Sonnet LXXI, what human feature does Neruda describe the earth as having?

3. What does Neruda propose he and Matilde do at the end of Sonnet LXXVIII?

4. In Sonnet LIII, what does Neruda NOT cite as "a man's needs, and a woman's?"

5. In Sonnet LXXIX, what does Neruda describe as "a double drum in the forest, pounding against the thick wall of wet leaves?"

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Neruda feel sorry for the "poor unlucky poets" in Sonnet LIX?

2. What defeats envy and rancor in Sonnet LVI?

3. What are Neruda and Matilde looking for in Sonnet XCV, and what do they plan to do once they find it?

4. Where are Neruda and Matilde when they share a kiss in Sonnet C?

5. In Sonnet LV, what attacks the "honied contentment" Matilde and Neruda share?

6. In Sonnet XCIII, why does Neruda ask Matilde to leave her mouth half-open if she should die before him?

7. In Sonnet LXXXIX, what does Neruda want Matilde to do when he dies? Why does he want her to do this?

8. In Sonnet XCII, what does Neruda choose to contemplate instead of the inevitable death of either himself or Matilde?

9. How does Neruda respond to his critics and those who gossip about him in Sonnet LVII?

10. Why does Neruda urge Matilde to sleep in Sonnet LXXXIX?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Neruda's opinions on literature as a whole, on poetry, on his own work and talent as a writer and on other poets. How does he feel about each subject? Support all arguments with specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the significance of sleep to Neruda and Matilde. Why does Neruda urge Matilde to sleep in Sonnets LXXIX and LXXXI? Why is sleep so attractive to the two lovers? What roles do sleep and dreams play in the couple's relationship? Include specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Neruda's poetry is packed with images from nature, and nature plays a dominant role in most of Neruda's sonnets.

1) Trace the importance of nature through Neruda's 100 Sonnets. What are some concepts that nature symbolizes? Some concepts one may want to consider include the relationship between nature and Matilde, nature and love, nature and Neruda's childhood, etc.

2) Choose at least three concepts or objects discussed in Part 1, and analyze the relationships between those objects and nature. Provide an in-depth assessment of those images and concepts, using specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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