Relic Ted Hughes - Retrieval Practice Quiz

What literary technique is used in the line: 'Time in the sea eats its tail'?

• Simile
• Metaphor
• Hyperbole
• Alliteration

What does the word 'cenotaph' in the final line most likely suggest about the jawbone?

• It is a symbol of life.
• It is a monument to the dead.
• It signifies laughter.
• It represents camaraderie.

How does the poem personify the sea?

• As a destructive and consuming force.
• As a nurturing mother.
• As a playful companion.
• As a wise teacher.

What structural feature is prominent in the poem?

• Regular rhyme scheme
• Enjambment
• Sonnets
• Rhyming couplets

What theme is explored through the imagery of 'shells, vertebrae, claws, carapaces, skulls'?

• The beauty of marine life
• The futility and decay inherent in nature
• The power of love
• The joy of exploration

Which phrase conveys the cyclical nature of time in the poem?

• 'Broken by the breakers'
• 'Time in the sea eats its tail'
• 'The deeps are cold'
• 'Casts these indigestibles'

The repetition of 'jaws' in the third stanza most effectively contributes to:

• A sense of playfulness
• A sense of rhythm and inevitability
• A sense of humour
• A description of beauty

What does the phrase 'gripped, gripped' emphasise about the jawbone?

• Its vitality and strength
• Its power to endure
• Its relentless, predatory nature
• Its fragility

How does the poem reflect Ted Hughes’ typical concerns as a poet?

• It celebrates the beauty of rural England.
• It explores the brutal, primal forces of nature.
• It critiques modern society.
• It focuses on human relationships.

What is the significance of the poem’s title, 'Relic'?

• It suggests the jawbone is a sacred artefact.
• It reflects the remnants of something long dead.
• It implies the poem is about religious faith.
• It symbolises prosperity and abundance.