Casey at the Bat

In stanzas 1 and 2, the phrases "sickly silence" and "deep despair" are examples of which poetic device?

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Alliteration

• Onomatopoeia

Poets often use alliteration to add emphasis to certain details. Look back at the first two stanzas of "Casey at the Bat."Why might the "sickly silence" and "deep despair" be important things to emphasize here?

• They show how excited the crowd feels.

• They highlight how hopeless the crowd feels about the game.

• They describe the way the players are celebrating.

• They explain why Casey is cheering loudly.

Stanza 4 describes how Blake "tore the cover off the ball." The poet uses figurative language here; Blake did not really tear up the ball. What is the figurative meaning of this statement?

• Blake missed the ball completely.

• Blake broke his bat while swinging.

• Blake played poorly.

• Blake hit the ball very hard.

In stanza 9, the poet writes: "...there went up a muffled roar, Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore." Read each word carefully. What poetic device is used here? Name the word that helps you know this.

• Simile — like

• Personification — roar

• Metaphor — beating

• Alliteration — storm

The lines in question 4 compare two different things. What are they?

• The fans’ cheering and a storm’s waves

• Casey’s bat and the pitcher’s ball

• The umpire’s decision and a distant shore

• The crowd’s silence and the game’s score

How are the two things compared by the lines in question 4 similar?

• They are both very confusing.

• They are both quiet and calm.

• They both show great strength and power.

• They both describe Casey’s skill.

Stanza 13 repeats the word "somewhere" many times. How many times does it appear?

• 2

• 4

• 5

• 3

We know that poets often use repetition to focus on important details. Why might the author of this poem want to focus on "somewhere" in this stanza?

• To explain why Casey missed the ball

• To celebrate how well Mudville played

• To show that everyone is upset about the game

• To show that life continues happily for others even though Mudville is sad