Poem Analysis Quiz

Complete the chart below by filling in the main idea for the poem’s second stanza. Then explain a theme of this poem.

• The second stanza focuses on the beauty of nature.

• The second stanza describes a historical event.

• The second stanza highlights the importance of friendship.

• The second stanza discusses the passage of time.

With a partner, take turns rereading the poem aloud. Then discuss how the poem’s structure contributes to the poem’s theme.

• Discuss the rhyme scheme

• Analyze the imagery used

• Consider the poem's length

• Evaluate the author's background

Read the poem below. Use the Close Reading and the Hint to help you answer the question. Circle the correct answer. Which of the following best describes a theme, or central message, of the poem?

• The heart of a woman is strong and can never be broken.

• The heart of a woman is restless and often feels trapped.

• The heart of a woman is happy and free to dream of the stars.

• The heart of a woman is dark and dreary like the night sky.

Which best describes the first stanza?

• The speaker looks back on past events with sadness and deep regret.

• The speaker looks ahead to future events with excitement.

• The speaker thinks about the past and wonders about the future.

• The speaker thinks about all he has to do in the months ahead.

How does the idea of time contribute to the poem’s structure?

• The speaker thinks about the past and then the future, and at the end he returns to the present.

• The speaker first thinks about what will happen in the future, wonders about the present, and then the past.

• The speaker thinks about the present autumn, then wonders what winter without spring would be like.

• The speaker recalls sitting by the fire during his youth, and remembers the sound of feet and voices.

What is the theme of the poem?

• Love and loss

• Nature and its beauty

• Courage and heroism

• Friendship and loyalty

Which of the following best describes the poem’s organization?

• stanzas of two lines in which the end words of each line rhyme

• stanzas of four lines throughout with every other end word rhyming

• a pattern of two-, four-, and six-line stanzas with a changing rhyme scheme

• alternating stanzas of four lines and two lines with a consistent rhyme scheme

Which best describes a purpose of the four-line stanzas in the poem?

• Each adds a new theme to the poem’s meaning.

• Each describes an episode that advances the story.

• Each marks a new time and place in the chronology.

• Each repeats the same phrase about the main character.

The structure of the poem uses lines of consistently similar length. Which best describes a reason this text feature is used in the poem?

• It shows all events in the poem are equally important.

• It makes it easier for the poet to find rhyming end words.

• It allows the poet to create a steady rhythm throughout.

• It makes the sometimes difficult phrasing easier to read.

What effect does the repetition of the lines “Brennan on the Moor, Brennan on the Moor, / Bold and undaunted stood young Brennan on the Moor” have on the meaning of the poem?

• It emphasizes Brennan's bravery and presence.

• It highlights the setting of the moor.

• It introduces a new character in the poem.

• It changes the tone of the poem to a somber one.