1 What has changed to fear in the beginning of "The Liar"? metamorphosis of self an image of a tree and cold birds flesh feelings of love 2 Why are the images offered in Stanza I scary? (For extra help, consult "Summary and Analysis" section of the guide.) They constitute scenes that cannot be found in nature but that are easily visualized in the imagination. Thus, they constitute an alienation from nature. They employ dark language that is meant to be eerie, such as "shadow," "frozen," and "rattling." They are a physical representation of all the things the speaker once loved and now fears. All of the above 3 Is the speaker's body completely separated from his soul? Why or why not? No; he doesn't technically have a body or soul because he is an alien Yes; the spirit is trapped in the flesh and the flesh tortures and degrades the spirit No; every time the speaker tries to find his flesh, all he finds are entrances of spirit. Thus, flesh and spirit are inseparable. Yes; the body and the soul are understood as separate entities and opposing forces in Baraka's literary canon 4 Does the speaker enjoy bodily pleasures? Why or why not? Yes; bodily pleasures are called "pleasures" because they feel good No; he describes the "comforts" of the spirit as disgusting things that he cannot understand Yes; he loves their "chanting weight" that "erased familiarity from his face" No; he feels trapped inside his body and his bodily pleasures degrade his soul 5 Fill in the blanks: "Though I am a ____ / who is loud / on the ____ / of his ways" man, birth alien, craziness man, tides person, birth 6 What does the speaker publicly redefine? his name his poetry his soul his body 7 How did the speaker profit from the change in his soul? divinely biblically enormously immensely 8 What was erased from the speaker's face? his eyes familiarity his moles sight 9 Fill in the blanks: "A ____ I think, / an _____" question, askance stupor, airiness question, answer fire, ember 10 Fill in the blanks: "whatever sits / counting the ______ / till you _____" hours, fall minutes, die seconds, rest minutes, live 11 What is the title of this poem? The Liar The Rider The Pretender The Deciever 12 What was the author's name when this poem was published? LeRoy Jones LeRoi Jones Amiri Baraka Immamu Amiri Baraka 13 Which of the following is an example of alliteration from the poem? "They / are whithered yellow flowers and were never / beautiful" "When they say, 'It is Roi / who is dead.' I wonder / who will they mean?" "silver spiraled whirled against the / sun" "We want live / Words of the hip world live flesh & / Coursing blood" 14 What year was this poem published? 1961 1966 1965 1963 15 What are the two main themes of "The Liar"? Psychological Terror & Separation of the Body and Soul Individuality & Psychological Terror Popular Culture/Oral Tradition & Individuality Metamorphosis of Self & Separation/Unity of the Body and Soul 16 What two qualities would characterize the speaker of "The Liar"? alien & scared vocal & critical hateful & changing shy & timid 17 What does "biblically" mean in the context of this poem? shyly hugely; immensely tinily meekly 18 What is the closest definition of the word "familiarity" in the context of this poem? friendliness relaxed friendliness or intimacy between people inappropriate and often offensive informality of behavior or language the state of being known or familiar 19 What is "Roi" a reference to in this poem? Roi Hibbert Roy Halladay It's a nickname for LeRoy Neiman, Baraka's best friend in childhood It's a nickname for LeRoi Jones, Baraka's name at the publication of this poem 20 What kind of literary device is contained in the quotation "It is Roi / who is dead"? allegedly assonance allegory metaphor 21 What does "instances" mean in the context of this poem? moments examples bodily comforts entrances 22 What is the closest meaning of "comforts" in the context of this poem? greasy foods bodily pleasures condolences things that cause pain 23 What kind of literary device is "rattling"? onomatopoeia imagery description simile
