E12: Poetry Unit (2011)
The Poems
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“The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” (259)
“The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” (261)
“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time” (265)
“To His Coy Mistress” (267-268)
“Song” (302)
“Death Be Not Proud” (313)
“The Tyger” (537)
“The Lamb” (539)
“Chimney Sweeper” (Innocence, 542)
“Chimney Sweeper” (Experience, 543)
“A Poison Tree” (547)
“Ozymandias” (619)
Literary Terminology
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Pastoral
Carpe diem
Metaphysical Poetry
The Romantic Period
Symbol
Imagery
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Alliteration
Theme
Irony
o Situational
o Verbal
o Dramatic
o Cosmic
Gothic
Parallelism
Unit Exam Format
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50 multiple-choice questions (A-E, one point each)
Section I: Identify the Poem (15 questions; state the title of the poem from which a line was taken)
Section II: Complete the Quote (15 questions; choose the missing word or phrase)
Section III: Literary Context and Definitions (10 questions; literary terms and movements)
Section IV: Comprehension and Details (10 questions)
Homework Assignments
*Note: All homework assignments will be graded for demonstration of understanding, clarity (including grammar and
mechanics), and adherence to the assignment requirements.
1. “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” and “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”
a. Read both poems carefully. Then, compose a quatrain in the style of the original poem expressing the
Shepherd’s response to the Nymph’s reply. Your quatrain must be exactly four lines and written in two
rhyming couplets (aa, bb). The content of your poem must include elements of pastoral poetry. After
composing your quatrain, write a short, 150-250 word rationale explaining your reply. Why do you think
the Shepherd feels this way? What is his response to the Nymph’s reply to his initial call to love?
Consider what you know about the Shepherd’s characterization and his perspective on life in your
rationale.
2. “To the Virgins to Make Much of Time” and “To His Coy Mistress”
a. Read both poems carefully. Then, compose a short, 250-500 word response describing your own
personal perspective on time. Do you agree with the carpe diem poets that time is fleeting and we must
take advantage of every minute? Do you agree that we should spend this vital time looking for love or
intimacy? Include and comment on at least two quotes from each poem (four total) in your response.
When quoting lines, be sure to place commas and periods inside of quotations marks. Citations are not
necessary for this assignment.
3. “The Tyger” and “The Lamb”
a. Read both poems carefully, and then review your notes on Blake’s philosophy of “Innocence” versus
“Experience.” Choose an animal (the more obscure, the better) and consider how this animal might be
considered symbolic of an abstract idea. Then, consider whether you’d like to set a tone for this animal
that adheres to either Blake’s idea of “Innocence” or “Experience.” Using Blake’s two poems as
examples, compose a poem developing your chosen animal as a symbol through either the lens of
“Innocence” or “Experience.” Your poem must include the following elements: a minimum of 14 lines, a
formal rhyme scheme, memorable imagery, and a repeated question (see the original poems for
examples).