The Cycle of Change Poetry Analysis Quiz

How does the poet’s use of personification to describe the river affect the poem?

• It expresses that the river is easily controlled and manipulated.

• It reinforces the sympathetic and emotional plight of the river.

• It illustrates the surprising power of the river over the much larger ocean.

• It draws a connection between the river’s journey and people’s journeys through life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which set of lines provides a contrast to the description of the river?

• “Is it yon lake that, sleeping, Calmly seems to wait for you?” (lines 7-8)

• “Will you seek it in the ocean, Mingling with its boundless blue?” (lines 17-18)

• “With its restless billows blending, Tempest-tossed and turned to rain,” (lines 21-22)

• “While the sun continues burning, I, like you, my race must run—” (lines 25-26)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the poem’s structure create a sense of urgency?

• Each stanza contrasts the energy of the river with the dull sameness of the lake, inlet, and ocean.

• The descriptions in each stanza progress from the calm of the lake and inlet to the tumult of the ocean.

• Each stanza relays the river’s journey through the lake, inlet, and ocean and ends with its return to the same mountain home from which it began.

• The descriptions in each stanza reveal the river’s desire to escape the confinement of the lake and inlet and to reach the freedom of the ocean.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What does *respite* mean as it is used in lines 14 and 16?

• an unexpected friendship

• a dangerous risk

• an unfulfilled desire

• a break from traveling

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

How does the word *respite* develop the meaning of the poem?

• It suggests that the river seeks a course to return home.

• It suggests that the river is similar in many ways to the other bodies of water.

• It suggests that the river stops briefly at each place but never stays long.

• It suggests that the river flows gently from one place to the next.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which is a theme of the poem?

• Nature is unrivaled in its beauty.

• Nothing ever remains the same.

• Exciting events often occur unexpectedly.

• Self-discovery is the ultimate achievement.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which set of lines from the poem best supports the answer in Part A?

• “Little river! Little river! Why forsake your mountain home,” (lines 1-2)

• “Downward dashing, plunging, leaping, Is it rest that you pursue?” (lines 5-6)

• “Will you seek it in the ocean, Mingling with its boundless blue?” (lines 17-18)

• “The wheel of change forever turning— Nowhere rest beneath the sun!” (lines 27-28)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the poet’s use of personification to describe the river affect the poem?

• It expresses that the river is easily controlled and manipulated.

• It reinforces the sympathetic and emotional plight of the river.

• It illustrates the surprising power of the river over the much larger ocean.

• It draws a connection between the river’s journey and people’s journeys through life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which set of lines provides a contrast to the description of the river?

• “Is it yon lake that, sleeping, Calmly seems to wait for you?” (lines 7-8)

• “Will you seek it in the ocean, Mingling with its boundless blue?” (lines 17-18)

• “With its restless billows blending, Tempest-tossed and turned to rain,” (lines 21-22)

• “While the sun continues burning, I, like you, my race must run—” (lines 25-26)

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the poem’s structure create a sense of urgency?

• Each stanza contrasts the energy of the river with the dull sameness of the lake, inlet, and ocean.

• The descriptions in each stanza progress from the calm of the lake and inlet to the tumult of the ocean.

• Each stanza relays the river’s journey through the lake, inlet, and ocean and ends with its return to the same mountain home from which it began.

• The descriptions in each stanza reveal the river’s desire to escape the confinement of the lake and inlet and to reach the freedom of the ocean.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9