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