Music and Poetry
Each student is to read the following ten poems. Once you have read the poems and the
assignments that go with them, pick five to complete. This is in lieu of a final (or first!) test.
Show me what you know!! Breathe - you can do this.
All questions are to be answered with complete sentences, thoughts and paragraphs where
required. When in doubt, check it out!
"She's Always a Woman to Me" page 190 Inside Poetry
1.
Write a brief character analysis of the woman. Include personality traits, flaws
etc./5
2.
What is the tone of this poem? /2
3.
What do the following lines of poetry mean? /6
a.
"She can ruin your faith/With her casual lies"
b.
"She can ask for the truth/But she'll never believe you"
c.
She will promise you more/Then the Garden of Eden"
4.
Pick out three examples of a poetic literary device. /3
5.
Are people as complex as Billy Joel seems to indicate? /4
"Paper Matches" page 260 Inside Poetry
1.
What did Aunt Hetty mean by her statement "That's the way it is"? /3
2.
What is the conflict in the first stanza? /2
3.
What is the speaker emphasizing by describing herself as a "small animal"? /3
4.
Is the comparison of women's roles to paper matches effective? Explain. /6
5.
What is the symbolism of the references to water? /6
"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" page 86 Poetic Insight
1.
Why is this poem a tragic narrative? /2
2.
How does Gordon Lightfoot feel about the event? /2
3.
Summarize this poem. Pay attention to the specific details of humanity. /6
4.
Why is rhythm important in narrative poetry? /4
5.
Compare this poem to another "tribute" piece of poetry. /6
"Arithmetic" page 287 Poetic Insight
1.
What is the author's purpose for writing this poem? /3
2.
Identify five poetic literary devices from this poem. /10
3.
How do poetry and humor work together with this poem? /2
4.
Write a short poem on an amusing incident. /5
"Farewell" page 348 Poetic Insights
1.
What is the speaker's tone? /2
2.
What is meant by the following lines of poetry? /6
3.
4.
5.
a.
"It is a flash of a firefly"
b.
"It is a breath if a buffalo"
c.
"From nowhere we come"
What is the poetic literary device used in this poem? Is it effective? /4
What irony develops upon realizing that an Indian chief spoke this on his
deathbed? /6
Write two metaphors that fit your life. /2
"Denim blues" page 24 Between the Lines 11
1.
Summarize each stanza of this poem. /6
2.
Which stanza is the most powerful to you? Why? /4
3.
What is the pun within the title? Explain. /5
4.
What is meant by the following lines of poetry? /4
a.
"one more casualty for casual wear"
b.
beaten into fabric & submission"
5.
Is this a political message? /1
"News" page 197 Between the Lines 11
1.
Summarize each stanza. /6
2.
Find and explain two examples of irony in the poem. /4
3.
Do you think this poem accurately reflects the average person's response to media
reports on disasters? Support your answer. /5
4.
Has human trauma become a major source of entertainment? /5
"After the Wedding" page 220 Between the Lines 11
1.
What three mood experiences does the speaker have in this poem? /4
2.
Find within the poem an example of the following poetic literary devices:
a.
Imagery
b.
Alliteration
c.
Assonance
d.
Simile
e.
Metaphor
f.
Symbol
3.
In a well-developed paragraph, apply "I knew I was too… a surprise since I've
been everything else for so long", to your own life. (Dig deep folks!) /10
"How do I love thee?" page 289 Between the Lines 11
1.
Why do you think Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote this poem? /3
2.
What is meant by the following lines of poetry? /6
a.
"I love thee freely…"
b.
"I love thee purely…"
3.
4.
c.
"I love thee with the passion…"
Read "Peanuts" on page 291. Why is this as funny as "How do I love thee?" is
beautiful? /5
Why is love both a constant source of pleasure and pain? Provide specific
examples to support your writing. /6
"Fast Car" page 293 Between the Lines 11
1.
Is the relationship between this young couple realistic? /2
2.
What circumstances limit their relationship? /3
3.
What were the original goals and plans of the speaker? How have these been
frustrated? /6
4.
What does the "fast car" symbolize to the speaker? /3
5.
This poem is about achieving dreams. Discuss your dreams and how you plan to
achieve them. /6