Speech to the Young: Poem Analysis Quiz

From the title of this poem, the reader can infer that the —

• speaker is an older person

• speech was written long ago

• speech was given at a school

• speaker has made many mistakes

What is the main theme of the poem?

• It is important to be cautious at all times.

• Life is too short to worry about the future.

• Life means different things to different people.

• Stay positive and don’t dwell on the past.

The poet establishes an informal voice by using —

• a rigid structure

• frequent line breaks

• an accented meter

• challenging diction

Read line 2 of the poem. say to the down-keepers, The poet is most likely referring to people who —

• do not think of the future

• struggle to succeed in life

• are discouraging to others

• believe life should be easy

Read lines 2-5 of the poem. What is the most likely purpose for using line breaks after each type of person mentioned?

• to emphasize the steady rhythm of those lines

• to create rhymes at the ends of the lines

• to separate different speakers

• to make the poem longer

The reader can infer that the poet’s main purpose is to —

• show the importance of self-expression through poetry

• describe the serious problems life can bring

• prove how effective short poems can be

• encourage readers to be persistent

What is the central message presented in lines 10–11?

• Look to the past to learn how to live in the future.

• Do not focus too intensely on the past or the future.

• Be proud of your accomplishments, but do not dwell on them.

• Remember your mistakes, but do not allow them to hinder you.

The repetition of the word *live* in the last three lines of the poem helps build a tone that is —

• anxious

• calm

• encouraging

• demanding

Which *two* elements of poetry does “Speech to the Young” use to convey ideas?

• Alliteration

• Repetition of sounds

• A consistent rhythm throughout

• A consistent rhyming pattern

• Line breaks after single words

______is the use of similar vowel sounds.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

_______is the repetition of consonants.

• Assonance

  Consonance

• Consonance

  Assonance

• Alliteration

  Rhyme

• Onomatopoeia

  Alliteration