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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 does the author decide to endure the pains of life for in the last poem in Live or Die?

2. What is the subject of "Barefoot"?

3. What does the speaker pledge in "The Fortress"?

4. What kind of accident is the subject of "Pain for a Daughter"?

5. Why is the speaker hospitalized in "The Break"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of "For John, Who Begs Me Not To Enquire Further"?

2. Explain the poem "Suicide Note."

3. Explain Sexton's retelling of the Icarus myth in "To a Friend Whose Work Has Come To Triumph."

4. What is the focus of Part 2 of To Bedlam and Part Way Back?

5. How does Sexton use her poetry as a form of therapy in Live or Die?

6. What is the significance of the title Live or Die?

7. Explain the poem "Eighteen Days Without You."

8. How was Live or Die received after its publication?

9. Compare and contrast "The Double Image" and "The Division of Parts."

10. What is the meaning of the title "The Fortress"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the purpose of Sexton's poetry? What message does she want to send with her poems?

Essay Topic 2

Explain Sexton's experience with love, particularly as it relates to her poetry.

Essay Topic 3

What is allegory? How does Sexton use allegory in her poetry? Use specific examples to support your claims.

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