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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. For what time of the year does Whitman write a warble, in the form of a poem for in the "Autumn Rivulets" section?

2. The child and her father are looking in the _____ at the autumn skin in "On the Beach at Night."

3. Who is in the curious trio with Whitman? This trio includes his _________ and his body, and himself.

4. Whitman says that years of ____________ are transient and strange, though he says he too is one.

5. Whitman says that he often looks up at the perfect __________ of the stars during walks in the night.

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the meteor used as a metaphor in the poem called, "Year of Meteors," which Whitman has written?

2. How does Whitman describe Paumanok in the spring when he writes the poem "Sea-Drift"?

3. What does Whitman point out happens no matter how many advancements science has made?

4. What are some of the signs of spring that Whitman lists in the poem, "Warble for Lilac-Time"?

5. What happens to the summer rains, according to Whitman's poem "Autumn Rivulets"?

6. What is the procession of the people into the theater, one of many on Broadway, used as a metaphor for in "A Broadway Pageant"?

7. Why does Whitman pay homage to the young pioneers who forged ahead to find homes for themselves?

8. To what are the tides of the ocean compared to in life, according to the poems of Whitman?

9. What does Whitman question about the world when he sees the felons being shackled and held in the court?

10. What does the poem "Passage to India" have to share about this country and about its progress in the world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The poet brings up an interesting idea of seeking happiness in places other than in one's self.

Part 1: Do you agree that happiness should only be found outside of one's self?

Part 2: Why do you think Whitman wants to reverse the idea of finding happiness in one's self?

Part 3: How do you find happiness in your own life? In yourself? Outside of yourself?

Essay Topic 2

While Whitman also addresses a number of metaphysical issues, he also talks about God and Jesus.

Part 1: Do you think that metaphysical and Christian ideas can coexist?

Part 2: How do you think Whitman feels about the idea of religion in general?

Part 3: How do you you feel about faith, spirituality, and religion? Are they all connected in some way? Do they have to be?

Essay Topic 3

Whitman talks a lot about the idea of democracy and how it differs today from the way it began.

Part 1: How do you see democracy working in today's world?

Part 2: Do you think democracy is an effective system of making decisions and governing people?

Part 3: Why do you think Whitman wants to talk about democracy in his poems?

(see the answer keys)

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