Works By Walt Whitman (Quiz) – Flashcards
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Describe the main idea of "I Hear America Singing"
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All different kinds of people come together to make America great
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In "I Hear America Singing", how does the speaker of the poem create a sense of unity among the A,wrican said who are off doing their own things?
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Through the use of parallel structure
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In "I Hear America Singing", how do the workers seem to feel about their respective "songs"?
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They feel a sense of satisfaction and ownership of them
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In what poetic form is " I Hear America Singing" written in ?
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Free verse
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In "I Hear America Singing", Whitman most likely chooses to represent the working class because
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He sees them as the backbone of a growing society
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What is it that Whitman appears to be celebrating in the opening section of "Song of Myself"?
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The things that make him unique
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What does Whitman use in order to create a feeling of connection to and union with the reader?
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1) He uses direct adress 2) He uses inclusive personal pronouns 3) He describes relatable experiences
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Why does Walt Whitman choose to temporarily abandon his old beliefs and knowledge?
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So that he can learn something new from nature
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According to "Song of Myself", what is Whitman's stated goal for the rest of his life?
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To live each day of his life to the fullest
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In "Song of Myself", what pair of words best describe the tone of this poem?
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Calm and meditative
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In the first part of "A Noiseless, Patient Spider", what is the spider setting out to do?
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Build a web for itself
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In "A Noiseless, Patient Spider", what literary technique does the poet employ to create an impression of monotony and tedium about the task referenced in the previous question? (The spider is building its web)
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Repetition
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What literary device does Whitman employ to establish a clear connection between the spider and his own soul?
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Extended Metaphor
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What is it that the soul needs, in order to justify its existence?
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Connections to meaningful things
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What best describes the central theme of "A Noiseless, Patient Spider"?
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Finding and making meaning in your life requires work and dedication
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In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", what does *NOT* contribute to the speaker's attitude
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His lack of emotional response to the lecturer
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In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", what structural devices does Whitman use in order to illustrate the mood shift in the poem?
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1) Parallelism 2) Diction 3) Free Verse
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In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", what causes the speaker of the poem to leave the lecture hall?
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His disappointment with the astronomer's lecture
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In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", what best expresses the central theme?
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True learning takes place outside the classroom
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In "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer", what best described the mood shirt that takes place?
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The speaker of the poem shifts from bored to inspired
