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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Michael S. Harper created his work by combining autobiography and ____.
(a) Myth.
(b) Fiction.
(c) Slang.
(d) Science.

2. Which poet works at Johns Hopkins University?
(a) Hacker.
(b) Clampitt.
(c) Smith.
(d) Olds.

3. What was the name of Sylvia Plath's husband?
(a) Warner.
(b) Hughes.
(c) Wakefield.
(d) Milford.

4. Jay Wright honored famed black scientist _______ in his work.
(a) Washington.
(b) Banneker.
(c) Lowell.
(d) Woods.

5. Galway Kinnell wrote about which of the following topics?
(a) Closed self.
(b) Mental illness.
(c) Super ID.
(d) Ego.

Short Answer Questions

1. Marilyn Hacker previously worked as a salesperson. Which item did Hacker sell?

2. In what year was Robert Haas named Poet Laureate?

3. Yusef Komunyakaa served in which war?

4. Gary Snyder focuses a lot of his work around which topic?

5. Which poem was written for a survivor of Hiroshima?

Short Essay Questions

1. Examine Kay Ryan's opinion on inevitable change. What point is Ryan attempting to make?

2. What themes are most often seen in Gary Snyder's work? What does Snyder credit with helping him focus on the inner world?

3. Heather McHugh's poem, "The Typewriter's the Kind," tells the story of a writer sitting in front of a type writer. Discuss the meaning of the poem and which passage best describes what McHugh is feeling about her work.

4. Discuss Amy Clampitt's early career. What are some of Clampitt's themes?

5. Dave Smith's work has been compared to which famous poets? Discuss Smith's earlier poems and the evolution of his work.

6. How does Michael S. Harper incorporate his heritage into his work? What was Harper's biggest influence? What themes commonly appear in his poetry? List some of Harper's poems that appear in this book.

7. Who was Adrienne Rich? What causes did she promote through her work?

8. What type of work did Richard Howard produce? Examine Richard Howard's fascination with the figures of 19th century high society. Also list some of the poems contained in his section.

9. Jay Wright had a way of combining facts about various cultures and relating them to his heritage. Discuss Wright's heritage and how he celebrated the accomplishments of others.

10. Discuss Michael S. Palmer's poem "H." what is the main theme of the poem? Does the reader get a clear vision of Palmer's insight? What might the poem mean?

(see the answer keys)

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