WorksheetsIncident in a Rose Garden Literary Analysis
Total questions: 35
Worksheet time: 18mins
“Incident in a Rose Garden” acts an example of a dramatized narrative because it
seems songlike poem that tells a story of adventure.
contains characters, plot, dialogue, and point of view.
The poem has which rhyme scheme?
abab cdcd efef gg
no rhyme scheme
Who acts as the speaker in the first stanza?
Gardener
Mrs. Trangmar
Death
Master
The word “incident” means an event that seems
unusual
violent
important
normal
In which stanza does Death speak?
the first stanza
the second stanza
the third stanza
He does not speak.
In the poem, the rose symbolizes
a beautiful flower that withers.
the fleeting nature of beauty and life.
the inevitability of death.
the beauty and pain in life.
In the poem, the garden symbolizes
the cycle of life and death.
the predatory nature of death.
The word symbol means
words that create mental pictures to appeal to the five senses.
when something represents a particular idea or quality.
The word simile means
conversation between characters.
a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
The word imagery refers to
words that create mental pictures to appeal to the five senses.
when something represents a particular idea or quality.
The word dialogue refers to
a conversation between characters.
a comparison between two unlike things using “like” or “as.”
The word irony means
an unexpected twist or turn in the story.
when the opposite of what you expect to happen happens.
The word personification means
treating animals like people.
giving human characteristics to inanimate objects.
The Gardener addresses
Death.
his Master.
Describing Death as “thin as a scythe” serves as an example of a
metaphor, which also personifies Death as the Grim Reaper.
simile, which also personifies Death as the Grim Reaper.
“He had his black coat on/Black gloves, a broad black hat” serves as an example of
personification.
imagery.
The Gardener describes Death’s mouth: “Big it was, with white teeth.” The description makes Death seem
predatory; hungry.
amiable; friendly.
“As soon as he beckoned, I ran” seems ironic because
no one expected the Gardener to feel afraid.
no one can outrun death.
“I ran until I found you.” “You” refers to
the Gardener.
the Master.
Death.
Mrs. Trangmar singing "You're closer to death..."
The Gardener decides to quit his job because
he dislikes calling his employer “Master.”
he thinks he will die soon so he wants to live life to the fullest.
The Master addresses
the intruder who threatened his Gardener.
Death personified as the Grim Reaper.
The Master’s use of the word “stranger” seems ironic because
Death is a “stranger” to no one.
Everyone will become intimately acquainted with Death sooner or later.
Full of hubris, or pride, the Master arrogantly declares, “This is my property sir.” However,
death does not discriminate; no one escapes death.
death comes to the Master despite his wealth, status, and arrogance.
Full of hubris, or too much pride, the arrogant Master addresses Death, “I welcome only friends here.” The speaker depicts Death as an intruder because
death always feels unexpected and unwelcome like an intrusion.
no one wants to confront death; no one wants to suffer loss.
Death speaks in the final stanza: “Sir, I knew your father and we were friends at the end.” This suggests that the
Gardener died.
Master’s father died.
Master died.
Death died. How ironic!
Death explains, “Old men mistake my gestures.” Old men
assume that death will come soon because of their age.
just don’t get Death’s sense of humor.
“I only meant to ask him to show me to his master. I take it you are he?” is an example of
sensory detail.
imagery.
irony.
dialogue
The Gardener’s tone seems
frantic; frightened.
optimistic; hopeful.
The Master’s tone seems
haughty; arrogant.
angry; outraged.
indignant; annoyed.
welcoming; amiable.
Death’s tone seems
formal; dispassionate.
comforting; reassuring.
Identify the most obvious feature of Justice’s writing style.
metaphor
irony
If Death had said, “Yo, dude, time’s up!” it would be an example of
imagery.
dialect.
Similarly, Death asking, “I take it you are he?” also serves as an example of
imagery.
dialect.
Why do authors and poets so often personify Death as the Grim Reaper?
Death seems to harvest souls.
Death often seems cruel, ugly, and gruesome.
The setting seems relevant, deliberate, and appropriate because
all beauty fades; all living things die.
one imagines a garden as full of life and beauty, making it all the more ironic.
