Poetry Packet EOG Quiz

In "I've Known Rivers", the rivers are compared to human veins in order to:

• Show how blood flows

• Provide the image of mountains.

• Prove that blood is thicker than water

• Reinforce his African ancestry

Answer explanation

Hughes connects himself to various rivers across different continents, suggesting a timeless and loving relationship between African heritage and the world's rivers. This reinforces the theme of cultural pride and resilience in the face of adversity.

or

Hughes mentions rivers like the Euphrates and the Nile, showing how connected he feels to them. This helps him feel proud of his African heritage and strong, even when things are tough.

In the poem, "I've Known Rivers", why does the poet repeat the simile: “My soul has grown deep like the rivers”?

• To emphasize the importance of his African heritage

• To highlight the profound and timeless wisdom the speaker has gained.

• To illustrate the geographical journey the speaker has experienced.

• To suggest that the speaker's emotions are turbulent and ever-changing.

Answer explanation

The poet compares his soul to rivers to show how connected he feels to them. It's like saying his feelings run as deep as the rivers have been around for a long time. This helps him feel proud of being African, reminding him of all the history and experiences African people have had. The repetition of this idea in the poem is like saying that being connected to his heritage is really important, especially when things are hard. It's like a reminder of how strong and special African heritage is, and how it helps people stay strong even when things are tough.

In the poem, "I've Known Rivers", what does the use of dawn and sunset as imagery reveal to the reader?

• How old the rivers are

• The passage of time.

• The rotation of the earth.

• The importance of the sun to the author.

In the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost, what does the metaphor of "Nature's first green is gold" suggest about the fleeting nature of beauty?

• Beauty is everlasting and eternal

• Beauty is fragile and temporary

• Beauty is deceptive and transient

• Beauty is abundant and permanent

In line two, the word hue means

• shade of color

• value

• desire

• beauty

Based on the speaker's questions to the wind in the poem, what can be inferred about the speaker's attitude towards nature?

• The speaker is fearful of nature's power

• The speaker is curious about the mysteries of nature

• The speaker is indifferent to the beauty of nature

• The speaker is frustrated by the unpredictability of nature

Answer explanation

This answer goes with the speaker's questioning of the wind in the poem. The speaker's questions about where the wind comes from and where it goes indicate a sense of wonder and curiosity about the workings of nature. This suggests that the speaker is not fearful, indifferent, or frustrated by nature, but rather intrigued by its mysteries and complexities.

The speaker asks where the wind comes from and where it goes, showing a genuine interest in understanding the nature of this elemental force.

The rivers are a metaphor that Hughes uses for:

• Freedom

• History, spirits and wisdom

• The pyramids

• His love for water.

What is the predominant tone of the poem "The Wind" by Robert Louis Stevenson?

• Playful and whimsical

• Mournful and melancholic

• Reverent and admiring

• Aggressive and forceful

Answer explanation

Throughout the poem, Stevenson personifies the wind as a mischievous and spirited entity, describing its actions with vivid imagery and rhythmic language. The poem conveys a sense of energy and movement, as the wind is portrayed as a dynamic force that whirls and dances through the landscape.

What do the rivers symbolize in "I've Known Rivers", by Langston Hughes?

• Freedom/Timelessness

• Freedom/Righteousness

• Death/Life

• Rivers and an Overflow

Which word best describes the mood evoked by the imagery in the poem "The Wind"?

• Calm

• Eerie

• Joyful

• Chaotic

Answer explanation

The mood in "The Wind" is like when you're outside on a windy day and it feels like the wind has a mind of its own. It's like the wind is playing games, swirling around you and making everything move. The poem makes you feel like the wind is a playful friend, dancing around and having fun. It's a happy and lively feeling, like being in the middle of a playful adventure with the wind.

or

Throughout the poem, Stevenson employs vivid and imaginative imagery to personify the wind, portraying it as a playful and mischievous force of nature. The imagery evokes a sense of wonder and whimsy, as the wind is depicted swirling, whistling, and frolicking through the landscape.

Line 16 even questions if the wind is a "child" like the speaker.