Interpreting Poetry

What should you remember when reading a poem?

• Stop at the end of each line to capture the poet's thoughts.

• The end of a line is not necessarily the end of the thought

• Punctuation in poetry is erratic, so ignore it.

• The most important element of a poem is its rhyme.

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What types of poems are better understood by being read aloud?

• All poems

• Only spoken word poems

• Only sonnets

• All poems EXCEPT sonnets

What is one way in which poetry is unlike prose?

• Metaphors are less likely to be found in poems.

• Poetry tends to focus more on plot and less on description.

• Every word matters in a poem.

• The speaker in a poem is usually the same as the author.

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What effect does the identity of the poet have on your understanding of a poem?

• The poet's identity may provide a lens through which to view the poem.

• The poet's identity is the same as the identity of the speaker.

• The poet's identity is irrelevant.

• The poet's identity tells you whether the poem is good or not.

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A poem's figurative meaning can be found though all of the following EXCEPT:

• the metaphors in the poem

• the symbols in the poem

• the meter of the poem

• the allusions in the poem

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The shift is important for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:

• It often gives a clue as to the poem's meaning.

• It gives you something to write about when analyzing the poem.

• It often affects the tone of the poem.

• It is funny.

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When should you consider the meaning of the title of a poem?

• Before you read the poem.

• After you read the poem.

• Before AND after reading the poem.

• Never. Titles are dumb.

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What is the primary purpose of a metaphor in poetry?

• To create a rhyme scheme

• To compare two unlike things

• To establish the poem's setting

• To provide a literal description

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Which of the following is a common feature of free verse poetry?

• Consistent rhyme scheme

• Regular meter

• Lack of a fixed structure

• Use of archaic language

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How does enjambment affect the reading of a poem?

• It creates a pause at the end of a line

• It allows a thought to continue beyond a line

• It emphasizes the rhyme scheme

• It makes the poem more difficult to understand

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