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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 does the poem "Sigma" take place?

2. What tyrant does the narrator mention in "A Long Head to a Round Head"?

3. In "Epsilon," what is the worst thing an artist can receive?

4. According to "Omicron," what is the school of the artist?

5. What animal is in "A Long Head to a Round Head"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the nickname African-China come about in the poem "African China"?

2. What does the Curator think about Hideho Heights? Why does he feel this way?

3. What is the significance of the Harlem Gallery according to Tolson?

4. What might have been the reason Tolson elects to use the Greek alphabet to separate his poem Harlem Gallery?

5. How does Tolson address tyranny in the poem "Tapestries of Time"?

6. What does Tolson believe is the greatest gift Africa has to give to its people according to "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia"?

7. Explain your interpretation of the line "You are / Black Lazarus risen from the White Man's grave" from the poem "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia."

8. What is Tolson's opinion on tyrants as seen in the poem "A Long Head to a Round Head"?

9. What is the significance of separating "Libretto for the Republic of Liberia" into musical segments?

10. How does the narrator define himself in "E.&O.E."?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the term symbolism and explain the symbolism present in "The Mountain Climber."

Essay Topic 2

Why is the word tapestries important in the poem "Tapestries of Time"?

Essay Topic 3

One of the themes that reoccurs in Tolson's poetry is that of the hardworking every-man. Chose one poem where this theme is present and explain how Tolson presents it using imagery and symbolism.

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