Identity Poetry: 'Genetics' Quiz

Which form did Morrissey write 'Genetics' in?

• Sonnet

• Villanelle

• Blank Verse

• Free Verse

Which of the following is NOT a feature of this form?

• Two lines which repeat in different places in the poem

• 19 lines

• Regular ABA rhyme scheme

• Starts and ends with a quatrain

Why did Morrissey choose to use this form?

• She liked writing complex poetry

• The repetition meant that she was able to focus her ideas more closely

• The rhyme scheme reflects how she feels about her parents

• The repetition symbolises how genetic material is passed from parent to child

What does the word 'repelled' suggest about the relationship between her parents?

• That they pushed each other apart

• That they weren't right for one another

• That they hated each other

• That the speaker feels bitterness toward their separation

What does the word 'demure' show about the speaker's parents?

• They took their marriage seriously

• They entered the marriage lightly

• They were trying hard to make their marriage work

• They were light-hearted and playful

How is the final stanza of the poem different from the others?

• There are fewer lines in the final stanza

• The final stanza is addressed to the speaker's husband

• There is a tonal shift in the final stanza

• The final stanza doesn't include repetition

Why does the poet choose to use half rhyme instead of full rhyme?

• To add variety to the poem

• To make a statement about separation and difference

• To suggest the simplicity of life

• To reflect how children are not perfect copies of either parent

Why does the speaker use the metaphor of the river in the third stanza?

• To suggest that the relationship struggled and drowned in emotion

• To suggest that it was a natural occurrence

• To suggest that the relationship might have survived if they had tried a bit harder

• To suggest that Morrissey feels bitter about what happened

The form of the poem has been described as having a cyclical structure. Why is this appropriate for this poem?

• It reflects how life is cyclical in nature

• It allows the poet to reinforce ideas

• Morrissey worries that what happened to her parents will also happen to her

The last line of the poem has three important words showing the change in focus to a shared future. What are they?

• We

• parents

• our

• hands

• us