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