(1) What does the furnace in “The Drunk in the Furnace” symbolize?
(2) Characterize the townspeople in “The Drunk in the Furnace”. Is Merwin critical of them? If so, how does he show this criticism in the poem?
(3) What role does the drunk play in “The Drunk in the Furnace”. How does Merwin characterize the drunk?
(4) What is the speaker’s opinion of death in “For the Anniversary of My Death”? Does the speaker fear or accept death? What in the poem supports your answer?
(5) Is Merwin a pessimistic poet? Cite his poetry to support your answer. Also, contrast Merwin, T. S. Eliot, and Adrienne Rich as sentinels on the frontiers of doom. Determine which poet is most spiritually uplifting and why.
(6) Summarize Merwin’s opinions on language and human communication in “Losing a Language.” Does he suggest a way to improve communication?
