The Egg Poem and Poetic Meter

Which reading of the opening line of Shakespeare's sonnet 18 sounds better?

• “shall I comPARE thee TO a SUMmer’s DAY?”

• Both readings sound equally good

• “SHALL i COMpare THEE to A sumMER’s day?”

• Neither reading sounds good

Which reading of the opening line of Edgar Allan Poe's poem 'The Raven' sounds better?

• Neither reading sounds good

• Both readings sound equally good

• “once UPon A midNIGHT drear-Y, while I ponDERED weak AND wear-Y”

• “ONCE upON a MIDnight DREARy, WHILE i PONdered WEAK and WEARy”

What is the most common way to describe the difference in poetic meter?

• By counting the number of syllables in each line

• By following the stresses in each phrase of the line

• By analyzing the rhyme scheme of the poem

• By examining the punctuation used in the poem

What is the metrical form of Shakespeare's sonnet 18?

• Iambic pentameter

• Trochaic octameter

• Anapestic tetrameter

• Dactylic hexameter

What is the suggested approach to interpreting a poem using meter?

• Count the number of syllables in each line and compare them

• Focus on the punctuation and capitalization used in the poem

• Analyze the rhyme scheme and imagery of the poem

• Identify the dominant metrical form and look for moments where the meter breaks

PART A: Which of the following best identifies the theme of the text?

• Hierarchy is necessary for order

• Outside forces are persuasive

• Security is temporary

• Ultimate power is achievable

Part B: Which lines from the poem best support the answers to the Part A theme question?

• "In this kingdom/ the sun never sets;" (Lines 1-2)

• "under the pale oval/ of the sky" (Lines 3-4)

• "and though there is a sea here/ there is no tide."(Lines 7-8)

• . "safe but for the spoon's/ ominous thunder," (Lines 13-14)

Part A: What does the word "ominous" mean as it is used in line 14?

• threatening

• roaring

• beneficial

• ordinary

PART B: Which of the following phrases from the poem best supports the answer to the Part A vocabulary question?

• "In this kingdom" (Line 1)

• "there is no tide." (Line 8)

• "galaxy of the barn," (Line 12)

• "safe but for" (Line 13)

Which statement best summarizes the structural shift of the poem?

• The first stanza describes the interior of the egg, and the second stanza describes the outside forces penetrating the egg.

• The first stanza describes the egg's delicacy, and the second stanza describes the egg's firmness.

• The first stanza describes the egg as pale, and the second stanza describes the egg getting darker

• The first stanza describes the egg being unprotected, and the second stanza describes the egg's safety.