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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: "Postcolonial Love Poem" through "From the Desire Field".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "These Hands, If Not Gods," the speaker makes a reference to the "hundred-handed ones." Who were these figures?
(a) The ancient potters who created human beings.
(b) The wise women who control fate.
(c) The giant offspring of Sky and Earth.
(d) The monsters that guard the gates of the underworld.

2. What is distinctive about the structure of "Blood-Light"?
(a) It is grouped into two-line stanzas.
(b) It is the only rhymed poem in the collection.
(c) If compressed, the lines would form a free-verse version of a sonnet.
(d) It uses ballad meter.

3. In "These Hands, If Not Gods," which religion's god is alluded to in the line "didn't you sing out their ninety-nine names?" (8)?
(a) Christianity.
(b) Islam.
(c) Judaism.
(d) Hinduism.

4. In "Blood-Light," what is the speaker imagining with the words, "Don't you want a little light in your belly?"
(a) How to tell her lover that she wants them to have a child.
(b) Her mother's motive for constantly trying to feed her.
(c) A way to communicate genuine joy.
(d) Her brother's motive for trying to stab her.

5. In "These Hands, If Not Gods," the speaker refers to "ichor." What does this word mean?
(a) The substance that the Greek gods had instead of blood.
(b) The wine that the gods drank on Mount Olympus.
(c) A strong desire to engage in sexual activity.
(d) A prolonged period of lazy satisfaction.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the page 1 lines, "when the war ended. The war ended/ depending on which war you mean," what technique is used to introduce ambiguity?

2. On page 1 of "Postcolonial Love Poem," what technique is used in the lines, "The seeds sleep like geodes beneath hot feldspar sand"?

3. In "These Hands, If Not Gods," what does "the seven days of your body" allude to (7)?

4. What is significant about the star Antares in "Blood-Light"?

5. In "These Hands, If Not Gods," what is the antecedent of the word "they" in the opening line "Haven't they moved like rivers?" (7)?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 395 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample