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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. What do wolf nightmares involve in "Short Takes on Wolves"?

2. What format does Atwood use for the poem "The Aliens Arrive"?

3. Why do such tales end in flames in "Aflame"?

4. What does everyone cry when they see in the section of "Plasticene Suite" titled "Whales"?

5. What is the cancelled word in "Walking in the Madman's Wood"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the editor in the poem "Editorial Notes" suggest the speaker do for the readers?

2. Generally, how do the aliens act towards humans in the poem "The Aliens Arrive"?

3. What is the main message in "Heart of the Arctic"?

4. What should have been inside the dead bird instead of plastic in the poem "Midway Island Albatross"?

5. What are the advantages of having a spider in the house in the poem "Spider Signatures"?

6. Why does the speaker insinuate people are so desperate for rain in the poem "Tracking the Rain"?

7. How does Atwood reimagine werewolves in the poem "Update on Werewolves"?

8. In quoting Rilke, what does Atwood say about poetry?

9. What are some of the speaker's worries in the poem "Oh Children"?

10. In the poem "Fatal Light Awareness," what do we know that the birds do not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are some of Atwood's pieces of advice to readers regarding the topics of aging and death? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

How does Atwood treat the topic of domestic violence in different poems in this collection? Write an essay explaining your answers, citing specific references to the text to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the different meanings and feelings Atwood assigns to different textiles in the poem Princess Clothing.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 606 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample