1 Where was Louis MacNeice from? Ireland England Germany United States 2 What other genre of writing did MacNeice pursue in his lifetime? Novels Drama Speeches Journalism 3 In what collection was "Prayer Before Birth" published? Holes in the Sky The Last Ditch Collected Poems Springboard 4 What year was the poem published? 1920 1932 1944 1912 5 What major conflict was happening at the time MacNeice wrote the poem? The Great Depression World War II The Cold War World War I 6 How old was MacNeice when he died? 38 55 24 89 7 Who is the speaker of the poem? God An unborn entity A soldier A child 8 Which of these does the speaker not mention in the first stanza of the poem? Bats Ghouls Vampires Rats 9 What is the speaker afraid of? Imprisonment Torture Drugs All of these 10 The line, "with strong drugs dope me, with wise lies lure me" contains examples of what poetic device (6)? Alliteration Personfiication Synecdoche Apostrophe 11 What, according to the speaker, can nurture their growth? A mother Love Nature God 12 For what does the speaker ask forgiveness? The sins they are yet to commit The thoughts they currently express Their request for death The mistakes they have made 13 What metaphor does the speaker use to ask for preparation for life on earth? Learning a language Rehearsing a play Reading a pamphlet Taking a class 14 According to the speaker, what will old men do to them? Laugh at them Lecture them Ridicule them Inspire them 15 According to the speaker, what will bureaucrats do to them? Comfort them Embarrass them Hector them Manipulate them 16 According to the speaker, what will lovers do to them? Prepare them Laugh at them Emasculate them Save them 17 Which of these scenarios does the speaker not imagine encountering on earth? Falling from a tree Dying in the desert Being cursed by their own children A beggar rejecting their gift 18 According to the speaker, the "man who is beast" also thinks he is what (26)? God The Savior Love Emperor 19 The term "lethal automaton" (30) is a euphemism for what? A solider A dictator A gun A machine 20 What is closest in meaning to the word "dragoon" (30)? Dragon Invite Coerce Lure 21 Which of these images represents manipulation by someone else? Machines Hands Blood-baths Trees 22 Which two fates does the speaker imagine for people on earth? Guns and boots Robots and books Machines and nature Stones and water 23 Which of these describes the form of the final lines of the poem? Quatrain Alexandrine Couplet Tercet 24 What does the speaker ask for as an alternative to being born? Death God Nurture A song 25 Which of these phrases is repeated throughout the poem? "I am not yet born" "Spill me" "I fear" "Otherwise kill me"