4. What poem is the companion poem to "The Rowing Endeth"?
(a) The first poem in Live or Die.
(b) The book's second poem.
(c) The book's last poem.
(d) The book's first poem.

5. What type of conflict is present in "The Civil War"?
(a) Person vs. society.
(b) Person vs. person.
(c) Person vs. nature.
(d) Person vs. self.

Short Answer Questions

1. What myth is retold in "The Fire Thief"?

2. Who solves the mystery of "Twelve Dancing Princesses?"?

3. How does the author describe herself at the beginning of "The Death Baby"?

4. When was The Awful Rowing Toward God published?

5. How many sections is "The Death Baby" divided into?

Short Essay Questions

1. When was The Awful Rowing Toward God published, and how does that affect the poems in it?

2. How does Sexton deal with feminism in Transformations?

3. Explain Sexton's revision of "Rapunzel."

4. Other than showing Sexton's emotional and mental instability, how is The Death Notebooks different in the arc of her work? Give at least two examples.

5. How does Sexton view her poetry in relation to her faith?

6. What does "Mary's Song" say about Sexton?

7. What is the focus of Sexton's version of "Cinderella"?

8. Why might Sexton's poem "Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)" have special significance for her?

9. Explain the premise of Transformations, and explain the title.

10. How is The Book of Folly set up?

(see the answer keys)

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