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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. Which image does Neruda NOT use to describe the constellation in Sonnet LXXXVI?

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

3. What image does Neruda NOT use to describe the sleeping lovers in Sonnet LXXXIV?

4. In Sonnet LXIV, what malady of Neruda's does Matilde cure?

5. What type of person does Neruda NOT describe as trying to "tie time down?"

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has the house in Sonnet LXXV forgotten how to bloom?

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. Why does Neruda write, "Woe is me, woe is me" at the beginning of Sonnet LXII?

5. What does Neruda ask of the "four-sided constellation" in Sonnet LXXXVI?

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

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

8. How does Neruda describe Matilde's laugh in Sonnet LI?

9. In Sonnet LXXXIII, where is Matilde as she sleeps -- both in body and in spirit?

10. What is unusual about the images of winter and cold in Sonnet LXXIV?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In many of Neruda's sonnets, particularly those near the end of the 100 Sonnets, Neruda deals extensively with the concept of death. How does the author view death? What are his wishes for himself if Matilde dies before he does? What are his wishes for Matilde should he die first? What does he believe will happen to the souls of the two lovers after their deaths? Use quotes from the sonnets to support any assertions.

Essay Topic 3

Choose at least three recurring motifs that appear throughout Neruda's works. Explore the significance of each recurring motif, including any symbolism associated with the motif. Support all assertions with examples from the text.

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