Poetry Assessment

Read lines 24-25.

"Doth plainly show what hazards some men run To get what will be lost as soon as won."

What does the speaker mean in these lines?

• People are willing to go through much trouble to obtain items that are only temporary.

• People will put themselves in harm’s way in order to defend their belongings.

• People will risk their safety when they want possessions that others have.

• People are willing to sacrifice their reputations in order to be the first with a new item.

What tone is established in lines 14-19?

• apologetic

• negative

• regretful

• sorrowful

Which set of words from lines 14-19 best supports the answer to Part A in question number 2?

• “emblem,” “hearts,” “butterfly,” “world’s best things”

• “world’s dispose,” “at best but fading,” “false,” “butterfly”

• “hearts,” “world’s dispose,” “best things,” “our boys”

• “fading,” “painted nothings,” “false joys,” “poor butterfly”

How does the phrase “painted nothings” in line 18 affect the meaning of the poem?

• It stresses the speaker’s frustration with the changes he sees around him

• It highlights the speaker’s annoyance with younger people.

• It emphasizes the speaker’s disregard for the beauty of nature.

• It communicates the speaker’s disappointment with trivial elements of life.

Which theme is best supported by evidence in the poem?

• Finding the beauty in nature requires a peace within oneself.

• It is important to invest one’s time in worthy pursuits.

• Life is a combination of both good times and bad

• Holding on to a positive outlook as one ages demands strong character.

Which set of lines illustrates the speaker’s feelings that the boy’s quest for the butterfly is a waste of time?

• “Found in her would be bundled up together, When all her all is lighter than a feather.” (lines 5-6)

• “And all his labour and his large outcry Is only for a silly butterfly.” (lines 11-12)

• “The butterfly doth represent to me The world’s best things at best but fading be.” (lines 16-17)

• “His running through nettles, thorns, and briers, To gratify his boyish fond desires,” (lines 20-21)

What do lines 7-10 reveal about the boy?

• He is interested in learning more about the butterfly.

• He is focused solely on catching the butterfly.

• He is clumsy and unsure as he navigates the landscape

• He is unconcerned with the fact that he is getting lost.

How does the poet use point of view to achieve a sense of tension?

• by not communicating the activities the speaker enjoyed when he was a child

• by not detailing whether or not the boy is able to catch the butterfly

• by not identifying the relationship between the speaker and the boy

• by not revealing the life experiences that have created a realistic perspective in the speaker

Read the incomplete summary of the poem.

"A father dreams of his past, while his son dreams of his future."

Which sentence should be added to make a complete summary?

• Both the father and the son are glad for their dreams

• In the son’s dream, he fights righteous battles

• In the father’s dream, he strolls with old friends.

• Both the father and the son share their dreams with one another

Read the quotation from Dante’s “The Divine Comedy” written during the 1300s.

"There is no greater sorrow Than to recall a happy time When miserable."

How does the poet of the modern work, “The Dreams,” draw on a similar theme?

• by recognizing the presence of longing at the end of one’s life

• by suggesting that it is impossible to feel joyful when presented with grief

• by illustrating the importance of life’s passions

• by expressing the worst qualities of one’s inner thoughts