Writing a poem about a place | Starter Quiz | Oak National Academy

Which of these is the best definition of a free verse poem?

• to draw conclusions or make interpretations based on clues or suggestions

• a form of poetry that doesn't follow any set rules of rhyme or structure

• poetry with a specific structure, rhyme and meter

Answer explanation

When writing a poem about a place significant to us, we can write in free verse or fixed verse.

Who is the poet of the poem 'London'?

• Jackie Kay

• William Blake

• Joseph Coelho

Answer explanation

William Blake wrote several poems about places. Poetry can be about a specific location or a wider area, like a city.

Which of these best describes imagery?

• the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience

• the overall feeling or impact that a poem leaves on the reader

• a comparison between two things by stating that one thing is another

Answer explanation

Imagery appeals to the reader's senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell), creating vivid mental pictures and enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.

Who is the poet of the poem 'No. 115 Dreams'?

• Jackie Kay

• Ian McMillan

• Matt Goodfellow

Answer explanation

Jackie Kay was awarded an MBE in 2006 for her services to poetry. In 2016 she was announced as the Scots Makar (national poet of Scotland).

Who was the poet of the poem 'The Old Farmer's Song'?

• Matt Goodfellow

• William Blake

• Joseph Coelho

Answer explanation

Matt Goodfellow has won several poetry awards and been shortlisted three times for the prestigious CLiPPA poetry award.

True or false? All poems about place must refer to a place that the poet has lived in.

Answer explanation

The inspiration for a poem about a place can come from a variety of sources, including personal experience, travel, historical events or even purely fictional settings.