Whitman and Cummings Poetry

Whitman/Cummings Poetry

By Paula Rein

​Literary Analysis: Comparing Imagery

In poetry, an image is a word or phrase that appeals to one or more of the five senses. Writers use imagery to bring poetry to life with descriptions of how their subjects look, sound, feel, taste, and smell.

Both “Miracles” and “in Just—” contain images that appeal to the senses. For example, “wade with naked feet along the beach” appeals to the sense of touch, and “the little lame balloonman” appeals to sight.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Select

“walk the streets of Manhattan”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“dart my sight over the roofs”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“stand under trees in the woods”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“talk by day with any one I love”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“sit at table at dinner with the rest”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“look at strangers opposite me”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“honeybees busy around the hive”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“animals feeding in the fields”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“birds, or . . . insects in the air”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“the sundown”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“stars shining so quiet and bright”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“thin curve of the new moon”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

"fishes that swim the rocks”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“the motion of the waves”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“the ships with men in them”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“the world is mud-luscious”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“little lame balloonman whistles”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“eddieandbill come running”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“from marbles and piracies”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“the world is puddle-wonderful”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

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“queer old balloonman whistles”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

“bettyandisbel come dancing”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Select

“from hop-scotch and jump-rope”

• Sight

• Hearing

• Taste

• Smell

• Touch

Multiple Choice

According to the following lines from “Miracles,” when does the speaker experience

a miracle?

Or talk by day with any one I love . . . / Or sit at table at dinner with the rest. / Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car.

• only when he talks with people he loves

• only when he eats with people he knows

• only when he sits with strangers in a car

• whenever he is with anybody at all

Multiple Choice

Which quotation from “Miracles” contains an image that primarily appeals to the

sense of touch?

• “dart my sight over the roofs of houses”

• “wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water”

• “stand under trees in the woods”

• “talk by day with anyone I love . . . / Or sit at table at dinner with the rest”

Multiple Choice

Which quotation from “Miracles” contains an image that primarily appeals to the

sense of sight?

• “wade with naked feet”

• “riding in the car”

• “delicate thin curve of the new moon”

• “What stranger miracles are there?”

Multiple Choice

What is the most likely explanation for the poet’s ending “Miracles” with this line?

What stranger miracles are there?

• He wishes to tell the reader that miracles are strange occurrences.

• He wishes to tell the reader that he has described all the miracles there are.

• He wishes to encourage the reader to see everyday things and events as

  miracles.

• He wishes to encourage the reader to think about the way in which the sea is a

  miracle.

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes “Miracles”?

• It is the story of the speaker’s life.

• It is a definition of the word miracle.

• It is a list of things the speaker considers miracles.

• It is a description of the world in the speaker’s time.

Multiple Choice

What is the main message of “Miracles”?

• Cities have wondrous qualities.

• The ocean is a mysterious essence.

• Nature is wonderful.

• All of life is wondrous.

Multiple Choice

In “in Just—,” what is the meaning of the words “In Just— / spring”?

• Spring has only recently arrived.

• Spring has not quite arrived.

• Spring is the most reasonable season.

• Spring is all right but not a special time.

Multiple Choice

What is the best explanation of mud-luscious, as it is used by the speaker in

“in Just—”?

• The mud probably tastes sweet, like chocolate pudding.

• It is annoying to sink into mud wherever you go in spring.

• It is time to plant gardens and put away winter clothes.

• The mud is a delightful reminder that spring has come.

Multiple Choice

To what senses do these lines from “in Just—” appeal?

when the world is mud- / luscious the little / lame balloonman / whistles

• sight and taste

• taste and smell

• smell and hearing

• sight and hearing

Multiple Choice

On a literal level, the balloonman in “in Just—” is simply a man who sells balloons.

What might he stand for on a symbolic, or deeper, level?

• the coming of spring

• the success of small businesses

• the desire to succeed

• the complexity of the universe

Multiple Choice

In “in Just—,” what are eddieandbill and bettyandisbel doing when they hear the

balloonman’s whistle?

• running home from school

• playing

• arguing

• starting their homework

Multiple Choice

Which word best describes eddieandbill and bettyandisbel as they are presented in

“in Just—”?

• frightened

• hostile

• happy

• mischievous

Multiple Choice

Which quotation from “in Just—” contains an image that appeals to the sense of

hearing?

• “the world is mud- / luscious”

• “the little / lame balloonman / whistles”

• “bettyandisbel come dancing”

• “it’s spring”

Multiple Choice

In what way are the speaker in “Miracles” and the speaker in “in Just—” alike?

• Both appreciate rural scenes.

• Both appreciate the joy of childhood.

• Both have a positive outlook.

• Both have a negative outlook.

Multiple Choice

In what way are “Miracles” and “in Just—” different?

• “Miracles” contains images, but “in Just—” does not.

• “Miracles” contains rhyme and rhythm, but “in Just—” does not.

• “Miracles” deals with people and nature, whereas “in Just—” deals only with nature.

• “Miracles” deals with the whole world, whereas “in Just—” describes only a single scene.

Multiple Choice

The tone of a poem is the speaker’s attitude toward his or her subject matter

and audience. Which statement accurately compares the tone of “Miracles” and

“in Just—”?

• Both “Miracles” and “in Just—” are reflective.

• Both “Miracles” and “in Just—” are playful.

• “Miracles” is reflective, whereas “in Just—” is playful.

• “Miracles” is playful, whereas “in Just—” is reflective.