Research another hermetic poet and choose one of his poems to compare to Ungaretti's. How does the other poet's work give evidence of hermeticism? How is the style similar to or different from "Variations on Nothing"?

Write a hermetic poem about "nothing." Consider the images you use to convey it and write a short essay on how difficult or easy it is to present the images in brief, vivid descriptions.

Research the brief period of hermetic poetry and write an essay on why it faded and what replaced it in mid-twentieth-century European literature.

Does "Variations on Nothing" express a positive or negative attitude toward human life? Defend your answer with examples from the poem.

Research how World War II affected life in Italy and write a brief essay detailing your findings. In what ways do you feel "Variations on Nothing" may have...