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Adult Life
Youth Life
"The Names"
"Taking off Emily Dickinson's Clothes" and "Introduction to Poetry"
Fun Facts
100
Where did Collins earn his MA and PhD?
University of California-Riverside
100
Where was Billy Collins born?
New York City
100
What tragic event is "The Names" about?
September 11th, 2001
100
What literary devices are used in "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes?"
Allusion, metaphor, and imagery
100
How many terms did Collins serve as US Poet Laureate?
2 terms
200
From what years did Collins serve as US Poet Laureate?
2001-2003
200
What is Collins' date of birth?
March 22nd, 1941
200
What year did Collins write "The Names?"
2002
200
What allusion did Collins use in "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes?"
"Dying" by Emily Dickinson
200
True or false: Collins is the 11th US Poet Laureate.
True
300
What years did Collins serve as New York State Poet Laureate?
2004-2006
300
Where did Collins work while in high school?
His fathers golf club as a caddy.
300
What does the "X" stand for in the poem?
The unknown number of people who were not found.
300
Whats the overall meaning of "Introduction to Poetry?"
It's a poem to explain to students the importance of poetry.
300
True or false: Collins is ranked 28th out of the top 500 poets.
True
400
From 1968-2001, Collins was a professor at which College?
Lehman College
400
As poet laureate, which poem did Collins launch?
Poetry 180
400
Whats the meaning of the final line “So many names, there is barely room on the walls of the heart”
He is reminding his readers that there were so many names of people who died during this time.
400
Who was Collins referring to as "them" in the "Introduction to Poetry?"
The students
400
Which actress shares the same birthday as Collins?
Reese Witherspoon
500
Why did Collins publish Poetry 180?
For students to have 1 poem a day to read.
500
Where did Collins grow up?
Jackson Heights, Queens
500
“Yesterday, I lay awake in the palm of the night. / A soft rain stole in, unhelped by any breeze." What does the words "night" and "breeze" mean?
The word night means that his feelings of this time are dark, and the word breeze means we should move on and go with the wind.
500
What poet is Collins referring to in the poem "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes?"
Emily Dickinson
500
Which magazine did Collins sell his first poems to?
Rolling Stone Magazine