Icarus's Flight

Look at the 3rd stanza. Which lines in this stanza provide an example of alliteration?

• "He flew precisely to the point of wisdom."

• "You say he flew too far?/He flew just far enough."

• "Would it have been better to flutter ignorantly..."

• "...his liberty"

Read the 4th stanza. Which line from the poem shows examples of alliteration?

• "...that neither shepherd not farmer with his plow..."

• "...watched him fall."

• "...in his downward plunge."

• "He now had his answer,"

What is most unusual about the structure of the poem?

• It does not have a consistent rhyme scheme.

• It is organized into five stanzas.

• Capitalization and punctuation are missing.

• Sentences extend from one stanza into the next.

In the first line, the poet asks, “What else could the boy have done?” What answer is the poet expecting?

• He could have flown lower

• He could have flown farther

• There is nothing else he could have done.

• He could have stayed in the garden.

What is the best statement of the poem’s theme or message?

• Test your limits to learn what’s possible.

• Practice moderation in all things.

• Be content with what you have.

• Work hard to prepare for the future.

What language device or structure does the poet use to communicate his message?

• sentence fragments

• rhyme and repetition

• comparison and contrast

• question-and-answer

What does the poet suggest by the lines “to flutter ignorantly / from petal to petal within some garden” (lines 12–13)?

• a busy, fulfilled life

• a dull, boring life

• a life of peace and harmony

• a life of freedom and escape

Which word best describes the poet’s attitude toward Icarus?

• critical

• dismissive

• admiring

• questioning

Which phrase from the poem best expresses what Icarus gained from his flight?

• “downward plunge”

• “point of wisdom”

• “just far enough”

• “upward escape"

What does the poet mean by “his anticipated plummeting” (line 7)?

• Icarus knew that he would eventually fall.

• Icarus was surprised by his fall.

• Icarus regretted trying to fly.

• Icarus knew that people were watching him.