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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. Who is the executioner in "The Hanging of the Mouse"?

2. Why is the dog pink in "Pink Dog"?

3. How is the poet's perspective in Uncollected Poems different from that in her other poems?

4. What does "Brazilian Tragedy" depict?

5. What does "A Word With You" describe?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the meaning of the simple, repeated incident in Drummond de Andrade's "In the Middle of the Road"?

2. In Carlos Drummond de Andrade's "Infancy," why does the author refer to Robinson Crusoe as "the long story that never comes to an end"?

3. What does the porch symbolize in "Sunday at Key West"?

4. How does the location in "Santarem" parallel the Garden of Eden?

5. What is the effect on the reader of the surprise ending in Vinicius de Moraes' "Sonnet of Intimacy"?

6. What do the hats come to symbolize in "Exchanging Hats"?

7. What does "12 O'Clock News" reveal about the way Bishop views familiar objects?

8. From what perspective is the story of "The Hanging of the Mouse" told?

9. Why do you think Bishop chooses animals to symbolize the players in "The Hanging of the Mouse"?

10. How is the character in "The Strayed Crab" an exaggerated human figure?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Love is a theme that is explored in several of Bishop's poems. Citing specific texts, analyze the place of love in Bishop's writings. What does she say about love? Does her perspective change or remain the same over time? Do you think these poems are more autobiographical or more universal in nature, and why?

Essay Topic 2

Bishop shows a special fondness for water in her poetry. Does it have one symbolic meaning, or many? What are the allegorical and metaphorical connections she draws relating to water? Cite a variety of different poems to support your claim. For example, in "Pleasure Seas," how does she view natural bodies of water as opposed to man-made swimming pools?

Essay Topic 3

Bishop's writing was not immune to the politics of the day. "The Hanging of the Mouse" and "Lullaby for the Cat" deal to some extent with the political times in which they were written. Discuss Bishop's unique approach to politics and its effectiveness. How can the reader tell that these are political poems? How does Bishop try to mask this fact? What is her ultimate goal in writing these poems--are they merely art, or an attempt to effect political change?

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