The Dreams

The Dreams

By Timothy Johnson

Multiple Choice

Part A

What inference can be made about the speaker?

• The speaker is confused by his dream.

• The speaker has fond memories of his past.

• The speaker has dreamt this dream before.

• The speaker is a private person by nature.

Multiple Choice

Part B

Which set of lines from the poem supports the answer in Part A?

• “Two dreams came down to earth one nightFrom the realm of mist and dew;One was a dream of the old, old days,And one was a dream of the new.” (lines 1-4)

• “And the people that peopled the old-time dreamWere pleasant and fair to see,And the dreamer he walked with them againAs often of old walked he.” (lines 9-12)

• “The other dream ran fast and free,As the moon benignly shedHer golden grace on the smiling faceIn the little trundle bed.” (lines 21-24)

• “So from our dreams my boy and IUnwillingly awoke,But neither of his precious dreamUnto the other spoke.” (lines 49-52)

Multiple Choice

Which statement summarizes the poem?

• A father dreams of his past, while his son dreams of his future; both the father and the son are glad for their dreams.

• Dreams often communicate truths about life and lessons to be learned through images and symbols.

• Dreams are sent down from another realm to instruct dreamers on the best ways in which to live life.

• When a father dreams of friends he once had, he is reminded of the importance of close relationships in his present life.

Multiple Choice

What do lines 17-20 reveal about the speaker?

• The speaker regrets the decisions he has made in his past.

• The speaker is nostalgic, which makes him both happy and sad.

• The speaker feels crushed by the memories of his childhood.

• The speaker is hopeful, which makes him wish to see his old friends again soon.

Multiple Choice

Read lines 5 and 21 from the poem:

One was a dream of a shady lane (line 5)

The other dream ran fast and free, (line 21)

How does the word choice affect the meaning of the poem?

• by highlighting the exciting natures of both dreams

• by conveying the troubled emotional states of the main characters

• by suggesting that the main characters have little in common

• by reinforcing the different speeds of life referenced in the two dreams

Multiple Choice

Read lines 25-28 from the poem:

For ’t was a dream of times to come—Of the glorious noon of day—Of the summer that follows the careless spring When the child is done with play.

To what is the metaphor referring in the lines?

• a child’s favorite activity

• a former lifetime

• the season of adulthood

• the time period while attending school

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word valorous as it is used in line 30?

• brave; courageous

• polite; respectful

• poor; desolate

• timely; fitting

Multiple Choice

How does the contrast between the rhythm of lines 1-20 with the rhythm of lines 21-40 contribute to the meaning of the poem?

• The rhythm of lines 1-20 highlights the doubt of the speaker, while the rhythm of lines 21-40 illustrates the trust of the speaker’s son.

• The rhythm of lines 1-20 begins with a reflection of the speaker’s life, while the rhythm of lines 21-40 ends with a hope for the speaker’s future.

• The rhythm of lines 1-20 expresses the quality of otherworldliness in dreams, while the rhythm of lines 21-40 expresses the truths that often appear in dreams.

• The rhythm of lines 1-20 conveys a sense of leisurely remembrances, while the rhythm of lines 21-40 suggests a hurried excitement.

Multiple Choice

Read the quotation from Dante’s “The Divine Comedy” written during the 1300s:

There is no greater sorrow Than to recall a happy time When miserable.

How does the poet of the modern work, “The Dreams,” draw on a similar theme?

• by recognizing the presence of longing at the end of one’s life

• by suggesting that it is impossible to feel joyful when presented with grief

• by illustrating the importance of life’s passions

• by expressing the worst qualities of one’s inner thoughts