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. Ginsberg stated that the meeting with Solomon was ____________.

2. For Ginsberg, poetry is __________.

3. Where does Ginsberg wander?

4. What is known as changing something to make it work for you?

5. To Ginsberg, riches have little or nothing to do with which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

1. Ginsberg spends a great deal of time talking about what is holy. What are the poet's thoughts on the subject?

2. What were some of the things the people of Ginsberg's generation did to try and ease the pain of youth?

3. How does the poet speak about the people of his generation?

4. Which things mentioned in the beginning of the poem bring serenity to the author?

5. Name at least two themes used in SUNFLOWER SUTRA. How do you know?

6. What is the main theme of the poem? Why is the theme important?

7. What was Ginsberg's relationship to Carl Solomon?

8. What kind of experiences took place in HOWL? To what does Williams compare those experiences?

9. What question does Ginsberg ask? To what can the sunflower be compared?

10. According to Ginsberg, what are some of the things that keep America interesting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare communism, socialism and capitalism. Use examples of each to illustrate points including pros and cons as well as political and social ramifications. In your opinion which is best? Explain. Using Ginsberg's poetry as a starting point, what do you believe the poet's opinion was of each? Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

In AN ASPHODEL Ginsberg talks about lust and quenching desire. Were writers discussing this topic 100 years before? Write about the similarities and differences in the poetry of the 1850s versus Ginsberg worked in the 1950s. Do you think that there is a great difference between need and emotional connection between people given the fact that Ginsberg is gay? What are your own experiences with identifying and quelling at various desires - mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical?

Essay Topic 3

IN THE BAGGAGE ROOM AT GREYHOUND discusses Ginsberg's views about what goes on in a bus station. Explain the purpose of using this particular location. What does Ginsberg see? What is unusual about the people? Describe the interaction between Ginsberg and the workers and passengers. What do the workers represent? What can one learn from performing such observations? Take a similar personal experience and compare and contrast it with Ginsberg's experience at Greyhound.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 638 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample