Comparing Literary Works: Poetry Collection

Comparing Literary Works: Poetry Collection

By Paula Rein

​Literary Analysis: Sensory Language

In literature, sensory language is writing that appeals to one or more of the five senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. The use of sensory language creates clear word pictures, or images, for the reader. Look at these lines of poetry, for example.

Crickets sing, curtains stir; / from the dog a gentle snore.

Soft sheets, white moon; / Summer night is at my door.

The language in this word picture appeals to several senses. The crickets' song and the dog's snore appeal to the sense of hearing. The swaying curtains and white moon appeal to the sense of sight. The soft sheets appeal to the sense of touch. All together, these images bring a summer evening to life in the reader's mind.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

In "Childhood and Poetry," what gift does the boy leave for the narrator?

• a toy sheep

• a pinecone

• a book

• a flashlight

Multiple Choice

Which word best describes how the narrator of "Childhood and Poetry" feels

about the gift he receives?

• annoyed

• suspicious

• grateful

• uncaring

Multiple Choice

In "Childhood and Poetry," the narrator mentions a landscape "uncared for, and

wild." To which sense does this image appeal?

• hearing

• sight

• smell

• touch

Multiple Choice

In "Childhood and Poetry," what does the narrator believe "unites all living

things"?

• feeling affection from someone we love

• having something unexpected happen

• feeling affection from those unknown to us

• receiving gifts that are valuable

Multiple Choice

In "Childhood and Poetry," what is true about both the pinecone left by the

fence and Neruda's poetry?

• They are ignored.

• They tell stories.

• They do not last.

• They are gifts.

Multiple Choice

In "Alphabet," the speaker says that "the old people / of our neighborhood / are

going up / into the air." What does she mean by this statement?

• that the old people are steadily dying

• that the old people are taking trips

• that the old people are forgetting things

• that the old people are watching the sky

Multiple Choice

In "Alphabet," the speaker notices small white flowers, a bare peach tree, and

empty lawn chairs. To what sense do these images appeal?

• smell

• sight

• taste

• touch

Multiple Choice

Based on the information in "Alphabet," which is probably true?

• The speaker has very few friends.

• The speaker is planning to move away.

• The speaker is new to the neighborhood.

• The speaker knows many of her neighbors.

Multiple Choice

Which word best describes the speaker's feelings in "Alphabet"?

• shy

• cheerful

• sad

• relieved

Multiple Choice

With what image does "Alphabet" end?

• a tiny rooftop

• an empty chair

• a string of names

• the sky above

Multiple Choice

What is the focus of both "Childhood and Poetry" and "Alphabet"?

• setting realistic goals

• overcoming difficulties in life

• our connection with others

• the importance of family

Multiple Choice

In literature, what is an image?

• a strong sound

• a word picture

• something that is not real

• one of the five senses