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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. In the poem "To Write One Song," where does the narrator go so that he can write a sad song?

2. In the poem "Kick Up the Fire," what causes instantaneous grief?

3. What phrase is italicized in the poem "Next, Please"?

4. What instrument is mentioned in the poem "Reasons for Attendance"?

5. What room is mentioned in the poem "Absences"?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the poem "Coming," what is coming? How does the narrator feel about this?

2. Where is the narrator in the poem "Night Music"? What does the poem celebrate?

3. In the poem "Self's the Man," who does the narrator compare himself to? What conclusion does he come to?

4. Who is the narrator of the poem "Wedding-Wind"? What emotion is the narrator feeling in the poem?

5. In the poem "Talking in Bed," how does the narrator feel about talking in bed? What does he say is hard to do?

6. In "Pigeons," what are the pigeons backing against? What are they doing at the end of the poem?

7. Where is the narrator in the poem "Spring"? How does the narrator characterize Spring?

8. What is the poem "Water" about? What does he say about water?

9. In "Portrait," to what do the woman's hands devote themselves? What are her enemies?

10. In "Going, Going," what is tougher than humans? How is it tougher than humans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the collection "The Whitsun Weddings," Larkin uses the theme of city vs. country often. Write an essay explaining this theme in the collection, making sure to use at least three of the poems in your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout his collected poems, Larkin calls upon the theme of youth to illustrate age and longing. Write an essay about the topic of youth in the collection "The Less Deceived," using at least three examples.

Essay Topic 3

Larkin uses nature often in his poetry. Using at least two poems, write an essay that explains his comparison of human characteristics vs. those of nature.

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