Advice to Writers - Billy Collins

What advice does Billy Collins give to writers?

• Ignore reading, write only occasionally, and never seek inspiration

• Limit reading and writing, and wait for inspiration to strike

• Never read, never write, and avoid inspiration

• Read as much as you can, write as much as you can, and put yourself in the path of inspiration.

What is the poet's most likely job?

• a teacher

• a janitor

• a writer

• a musician

What is the figurative language trying to convey to the reader?

• Make sure you say your prayers before the Pope comes.

• Make sure your mind is clear and clean before you write.

• Make sure you clean your house before your company arrives.

• Make sure give good directions to your home.

What does the imagery in stanza 5 help the reader visualize?

• It helps them visualize how nice their home looks.

• It helps them visualize how ants will follow you.

• It helps them visualize they should keep writing as much as they can.

• It helps them visualize the consequences of writer's block.

What is the primary theme of the poem?

• People should clean their homes in order to stay healthy.

• When writing, clear your mind and your thoughts will flow.

• Janitors who write have a hard time writing.

• Writers who clean their writing space could be janitors.

In stanza 4, the word immaculate means -

• unclean or dirty

• spotless or clean

• religious or sacred

• small or tiny

What type of poem is "Advice to Writers"?

• limmerick

• free verse

• haiku

• epic

The poem is an _____________ because it compares writing to cleaning throughout the entire poem.

• onomatopoeia

• allusion

• epic poem

• extended metaphor