Symbolism and Themes in Dickinson's Poetry

Symbolism and Themes in Dickinson's Poetry

Assessment

Interactive Video

English

11th - 12th Grade

Hard

Created by

Richard Gonzalez

FREE Resource

The video tutorial explores Emily Dickinson's poem 'A Narrow Fellow in the Grass,' focusing on its themes of ambiguity, imagery, and symbolism. The poem's depiction of a snake serves as a metaphor for complex ideas such as knowledge, original sin, and the tension between belonging and isolation. The analysis connects these themes to Dickinson's personal experiences and broader societal contexts, emphasizing the poem's layered meanings and the poet's unique perspective on nature and society.

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9 questions

Show all answers

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What is the primary theme of 'A Narrow Fellow in the Grass'?

War and peace

Ambiguity and paradox

Friendship and loyalty

Love and romance

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How is the snake described in the poem?

As a symbol of peace

As a representation of love

As a metaphor for a snake

As a friendly creature

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What happens to the tone of the poem when the snake is distant?

It becomes sad

It becomes angry

It becomes jovial and contemplative

It becomes fearful

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the poem suggest about the experience of belonging?

It is dynamic and based on interactions

It is irrelevant

It is static and unchanging

It is always positive

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How did Emily Dickinson view her reclusive nature?

As a societal obligation

As a negative experience

As a way to defend her joy in living

As a punishment

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the snake symbolize in the poem?

Only original sin

Only knowledge

Only rebirth

Multiple connotations including original sin and rebirth

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the snake's transformation suggest?

It belongs to the domestic world

It does not belong to any world

It is a symbol of peace

It is static and unchanging

8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What literary device is used to establish a connection with the snake in the first stanza?

Irony

Hyperbole

Metaphor

Personification

9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What does the final stanza suggest about the experience of fear?

It is empowering

It is isolating

It is joyful

It is a shared experience