Poetry: Structure - Attempt 1

What is the effect of the line break in the following excerpt?

"The river moves,
carrying shadows,
whispering names
that no one remembers."

• It makes the river seem chaotic and unpredictable.

• It creates a sense of urgency, making the reader feel rushed.

• It slows the pacing of the poem, making each image more impactful.

• It separates different speakers in the poem.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Why does the poet separate the following lines into two stanzas?

*"I called your name
but the wind took my voice away.

Silence answered me instead."*

• It forces the poem into a strict rhyme scheme.

• It changes the perspective from one speaker to another.

• It suggests that the speaker is waiting for a response.

• The stanza break highlights the shift from action to consequence.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does enjambment affect the following lines?

"She walks alone,
footsteps echoing
in the empty streets,
chasing the moon."

• It makes each line feel isolated and disconnected.

• It creates a sense of movement and continuity, mimicking the character’s journey.

• It slows down the poem, making each word feel heavy.

• It forces the reader to pause at the end of each line.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.13

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the effect of repetition in the following lines?

"I wait.
I wait.
I wait for the sun to rise."

• It emphasizes the speaker’s impatience and longing.

• It confuses the reader, making the meaning unclear.

• It creates a rushed, frantic tone.

• It suggests that the speaker is being interrupted.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Where does the shift in tone occur in the following poem excerpt?

*"The morning light drapes golden threads
across my window pane.
A new day breathes,
waiting for me to begin.

But I do not move."*

• The shift happens at the beginning, when the sun rises.

• The shift occurs in the last line, where the speaker’s inactivity contrasts with the energy of the morning.

• There is no shift; the tone remains the same throughout.

• The shift is in the second line, where the poet describes the window pane.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Why might a poet choose to write in free verse rather than using a traditional rhyme scheme?

• Free verse prevents the use of repetition and figurative language.

• Free verse allows for a natural, conversational flow that mirrors thought.

• Free verse forces the poet to follow strict syllable patterns.

• Free verse is required for all modern poetry.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the purpose of the one-line stanza at the end of this poem?

*"She searched the empty streets,
listening for a voice she knew.

The night stretched long and quiet.

Nothing."*

• It marks a shift in rhyme scheme.

• It introduces a new setting for the poem.

• It speeds up the pacing to create a sense of urgency.

• The single-word stanza isolates the absence of sound, reinforcing loneliness.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the effect of parallel structure in the following lines?

"She rises with the sun.
She walks with the wind.
She sleeps with the stars."

• It creates a fragmented and choppy tone.

• It makes the poem feel rushed and disorganized.

• It creates rhythm and emphasizes the speaker’s connection to nature.

• It introduces a shift in perspective.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9