Which Beat poet's poem Howl became the subject of an obscenity trial in 1957?

• A. Allen Ginsberg
• B. Jack Kerouac
• C. William S. Burroughs
• D. Gary Snyder

Answer: (A)

The key idea is censorship and the way the Beats pushed boundaries in the 1950s. Allen Ginsberg wrote Howl, a work known for its blunt language and open discussion of sexuality and society. When Howl was published by City Lights in 1956, it sparked a famous obscenity case in 1957 in San Francisco (People v. Ferlinghetti). The trial became a landmark moment for free expression in American literature: the court ultimately ruled that the book was not obscene, affirming that literature can address difficult, taboo topics and still be protected by the First Amendment. This makes Ginsberg the author connected with this notable obscenity trial. The other writers listed did not author Howl, or were not the subjects of this particular case, so they aren’t the correct link to this event.