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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 is "The Burglar of Babylon" about?

2. What does Micucu's auntie do in "The Burglar of Babylon"?

3. How did the title "The Man-Moth" come to be?

4. How does Bishop tend to characterize a person's feelings and moods in the poems in North and South?

5. What is described in the poem "Paris, 7 A.M."?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the tone of "A Cold Spring" in contrast to its subject matter?"

2. What two things is Bishop comparing in "Brazil, January 1, 1502"?

3. What is the relationship between the fisherman and the fishhouse in "At the Fishhouses"?

4. How does Bishop portray water in the poems in North and South?

5. How does the title of "The Man-Moth" alter the feel of the poem?

6. What is Bishop comparing in "Large Bad Picture" when she refers to "commerce or contemplation"?

7. How does the poet frame her journey in "Over 2,000 Illustrations and a Complete Concordance"?

8. Why does Bishop chose the word "flying" in "Invitation to Miss Marianne Moore"?

9. How does Bishop portray the hermit's loneliness in "Chemin de Fer"?

10. Does Bishop see the ocean as ever-changing or never changing in the poems in Cold Spring?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of Bishop's poetry relates to geography. Citing specific poems, including "The Map," "Over 2,000 Illustrations and a Complete Concordance," "Brazil January 1, 1502," and the introduction to Geography III, discuss the importance of geography in Bishop's work. How does she see it? Why is it so important to her? How does it frame who she is, her subject matter, and her approach?

Essay Topic 2

The New Poems section is comprised of four poems written shortly before Bishop's death. Do you see any connections among them? Do they differ in any way from the other poems in the text? Compare and contrast these poems with the poems in Poems Written in Youth. In what ways did the poet remain consistent, and in what ways did she change as a writer as she matured?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Bishop's sense of humor as evidenced by her poetry. Is her humorous tone consistent across the various poems, or does it change? Why do you think she chooses a humorous approach in these poems? How does it make the poetry more effective? How would these poems be different if the writing were more objective? Cite specific poems to support your claim. Some poems you might consider include "The Man-Moth," "Lines Written in the Fannie Farmer Cookbook," and "12 O'Clock News."

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