BUCKLEY’S POETRY PROMPTS: Pre-AP Exam Study Guide
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The following two poems treat historical (
) subject matter. Explain why one poem is more effective than the
other in communicating its message. Consider literary elements.

Examine how the poet’s style conveys her meaning. Consider form, word choice, stanza length and format, length and
arrangement of lines, and literary devices.
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Discuss how (author) elicits an emotional response from the reader or listener. Consider such elements as sp4eaker, form,
imagery, and musicality.
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Discuss the imagery (author) creates in this poem. Explain the literary methods he/she uses to paint these images. Consider
figurative language, sensory images, sound devices, and opposition.
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How does (author) use the sonnet form to convey his/her love. Consider speaker, imagery and poetic devices.
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Discuss the allusion to ____ and _____. Consider literary elements as rhythm, imagery, form, theme and tone.
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Contrast and compare two poems of the same topic by considering theme, speaker, diction, imagery, form, and tone.

Discuss the speakers’ attitude toward love and analyze the techniques the poets use to communicate their feelings (two lyrical
poems).

Discuss the devices the poet uses to reveal his/her attitudes toward

Two points: consider the similarities and differences in style and meaning. Consider such topics as the use of detail, imagery,
point-of-view, and symbolism.

Discuss how the use of language in the poem determines the reader’s response to the speaker of his situation.

Discuss the ways in which the author’s style (diction, imagery, and selection of detail) reveals his/her feeling about what he/she
recalls and cannot remember about
.

Show how the language of each stanza reveals the perceptions and feelings of the speaker.

Analyze how the poet employs images of (
) to support his/her central theme.
Considering such literary elements as style, tone, rhyme, and diction, write a well-organized essay that examines the poem’s
view of

.

Considering such literary elements as imagery, diction, and tone, write a well-organized essay that examines the author’s view
of
(whatever the author is observing)

The author did not title his/her poem so the first line is used. Decide what would be an appropriate title for the poem
considering such literary elements as style, tone, rhyme, diction, and imagery. Write a well-organized essay proving your
choice.

The following two poems, written by women, are about ______. Read the two poems carefully and compare them considering
literary elements of poetry.

Analyze the various stages in the poem’s “argument.” Consider the speaker’s choice of images, allusions, and other devices of
language re-enforce his argument. Take into account the overall structure of the poem.

Analyze how the speaker of the poem portrays the
to
-- the nature of this portrayal, the manner
in which it is reinforced by the poet’s choice of words, and in what ways this sometimes harsh portrayal is qualified.

Analyze the various stages in the development of the speaker’s thought process, concentrating especially on (a) her attitudes
toward
and (b) the speaker’s perception of the similarities and differences between and
.

Two poems: present portraits of
; however, the two poets approach their portraits very differently. Distinguish
between the attitudes of the poets towards their lovers and the techniques each uses to express his attitude.

Explain what form of poetry it is, and how the poet makes the reader aware of
.

Who is the speaker? Explain the (word) in the () stanza and (word) in () stanza and how these words fit into the general
meaning of the poem. Drawing attention to figures of speech, meter and rhyme, show how the spot gives a wider meaning to
the poem. What effect does the last line have on you?

Describe the tone of the speaker and explain what he/she feels. Explain the (figures of speech) at work in (). What effect does
personification have in the last stanza?

Who is the speaker and what form of poetry is it. What is the irony involved in (lines).

Explain what an elegy is by showing how this one is constructed. What is the tone of the speaker? What does knowing the
background of the poet do for you as a reader? Should we always be provided with background material?

Look carefully at and read the visual poem. How does the form suit the subject? Does the look of the poem enhance the
meaning of confuse it?

Is the poem and open or closed form? Pick out and discuss any areas (word choice, unusual images of the poem that strike you
as crucial to the meaning, which perhaps might be seen on two levels.

Analyze the tone of the poem by showing how the meter adds to the tone.

Distinguish differences between the connotations of the two main words in the title of the poem as they are developed in this
poem. Refer to tone, style, poetic devices, structure, and imagery.

How does the language of the poem reflect the speaker’s perceptions, and how does the language determine the reader’s
perception.

How does the poet reveal character? (i.e., diction, sound devices, imagery, allusion)

Contrast the speakers’ views toward a subject in two poems. Refer to form, tone, and imagery.

Discuss how poetic elements, such as language, structure, imagery, and point of view convey meaning in a poem.

Discuss what elements make one better than another.

Relate the imagery, form, or theme of a particular section of a poem to another part of that same poem. Discuss changing
attitude or perception of speaker or reader.

Analyze a poem’s extended metaphor and how it reveals the poet’s or speaker’s attitude.

Discuss the way of life revealed in a poem. Refer to such poetic elements as tone, imagery, symbol, and verse form.

Discuss the poet’s changing reaction to the subject developed in the poem.

Discuss how the form of the poem affects its meaning.
and how the speaker reveals