Cultural Rebellion: Mid-Twentieth Century Voices — Test
Question 3 • Literature and Composition III
Read this excerpt from Diane Di Prima’s poem "Buddhist New Year Song." I could see the planet from which we had come I could not remember (then) what our purpose was but remembered the name Mahakala, in the dawn in the dawn confronted Shiva, the cold light revealed the “mindborn” worlds What is the purpose of these allusions in this excerpt?
Answer
A
to show the speaker of the poem’s intelligence
B
to depict the importance of religious faith
C
to explain the purpose of the dawn
D
to reference figures of destruction and creation
Explanation
Mahakala and Shiva are figures from Hindu religious traditions associated with destruction and creation. Mentioning them connects the speaker’s vision to those cosmic forces and the creation of worlds. The allusions do more than show the speaker’s knowledge or explain why dawn occurs.
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