View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. By whom was Stesichoros supposedly struck blind?

2. Herakles comments in “Walls” that all of Geryon's creative expressions reference what?

3. In "Grooming," the opening sentence describes living childhood close to what?

4. What drink does the centaur give to Geryon in "Geryon's Weekend"?

5. The subject in the opening line of “Lava” imagines being what alone in the dark?

Short Essay Questions

1. What sexual abuse is described in "Each"?

2. How would you describe the language style in the introduction to the novel?

3. Describe the structure of the poems in the main storyline. How are the poems similar in their format?

4. How is the motif of the color red explored in "Justice," "Each," and "Rhinestones"?

5. What is signficant about Geryon's perception of himself in "Right"?

6. What is significant about the quote that opens “Autobiography of Red: A Romance”?

7. What does the dog signify in "Wings" and the other early poems in the novel?

8. What are examples of foreshadowing seen in “Sex Question” through “Somnambula”?

9. What is a palinode? What palinode is described in Appendix A: “Testimonia on the Question of Stesichoros’ Blinding by Helen”?

10. What is suggested by the references to the color red in Section 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of identity and the "Other" in Autobiography of Red. How are these themes developed through character, setting, and action? How does the author support these themes through symbolism and imagery?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the irony in the poem titled "Justice." From whom does the narrator claim Geryon first learned about justice? How? What actions are detailed in the poem?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of Geryon's dog in the novel. How is the dog described? In what poems does the dog appear? What statement is made regarding the dog in the final interview at the end of the book? What do you think is meant by this statement?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample