WorksheetsELA3 Q-4 Poetry Review
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 45mins
In the poem "I Hear America Singing", you can infer that Walt Whitman chose to write about these Americans because...
These were people he had only read about
He wanted them to have better working conditions
He wanted to make up for his life of privilege
He believed they were the true American epic heroes
In the poem "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died", the speaker compares the "Stillness in the room" to...
quiet moments between thunder
the silence when a person dies
the calm of a summer night
the tranquility of an empty house
What do the following stanzas from "Ode to Walt Whitman" imply about Whitman's poetry?
Whitman's poetry resonates with all people, regardless of race or class
Whitman's poetry is melodic and rythmic like the ringing of a bell
Whitman's poetry, while beautiful, is fleeting and cannot stand the test of time
Whitman's poetry is only significant to specific audiences of people
Instead of a "paragraph", in poetry, we call groups of lines...
Staza
Stanzas
Sections
Stadias
What is parallel structure in poetry?
lists of images & things
using language to evoke sensual images
repetition of similarly structured phrases
repetition of vowel sounds
What class of workers does Whitman celebrate in his poem "I Hear America Singing"?
laborers
the upper-class
athletes
singers
What is "Song of Myself" mostly about?
The Industrial Revolution
Individual's relation to nature
Grass
Father/Son relationship
In the poem "I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died", what does the speaker of the poem do with their belongings?
gives her belongings to others
throws her belongings away
leaves her belongings in her house
Puts her belongings in storage
In "The Soul Selects Her Own Society" which of the following most accurately explains line 2?
The soul closes the door after people leave her.
The soul physically shuts the door.
The soul shuts the door to all others after choosing what she wants.
The soul is reclusive.
In the poem "I, Too" the poet claims...
that he should have all the rights afforded to other Americans.
that he too should have access to the American Dream.
that he should have equal opportunity.
all of the above
Which of these phrases from the poem "The Weary Blues" shows an example of alliteration?
“Down on Lenox Avenue"
"Swaying to and fro"
"That poor piano"
"A deep strong voice"
Which of the following is the best translation of Stanza 2 of "The Soul Selects her own Society"?
The soul doesn't care about how much power people have
The soul gets lots of visitors in chariots
The soul is married to an emperor
The soul never moves
In Whitman's poem, "A Noiseless Paitent Spider", the speaker is comparing a spider to...
His soul
His mind
His physical body
None of the above
What sentence best describes the overall theme of the poem "Because I Could Not Stop for Death"?
Immortality is a heavy burden
It is often hard to accept death
Death is something to be feared and avoided.
Death may signify the end of life, but also immortality.
What is the tone of the poem "I, Too"?
Dejected
Angry
Hopeful
Joyful
How does the personification of Death in "Whispers of Heavenly Death" contribute to the poem's theme?
By personifying Death as gentle & quiet, it contributes to the theme that we shouldn't be afraid of death
By personifying Death as heavenly, it contributes to the theme that death is a good thing & should always be celebrated
By personifying Death as mysterious & mystical, it contributes to the theme that we should be fearful of death
None of the above
What are the blues that the pianist sings about in the poem "The Weary Blues"?
Poverty
Loneliness
Hunger
Excessive labor
In the poem "We Wear the Mask", why is it important that the mask "hides cheeks and shades eyes" instead of concealing the wearer's nose, teeth, ears, etc?
They are randomly chosen by the author
These parts of the face are vital for making expressions of emotion
Those are his favorite parts
Those are the only parts that masks cover
In Whitman's poem "A Noiseless Patient Spider", what does the spider and the man's soul have in common?
They are both stuck
They are both seeking something to cling to and hold on to.
They are both tired
They are both loud.
In Toomer's poem "Storm Ending" the sun is...
Starting to shine
Covered by the clouds
Blinding the speaker
Fighting off the storm
What is Whitman trying to communicate to the reader in lines 5-6 of "Whispers of Heavenly Death"
That death is a river
That sadness is always a part of death
That death is nothing to be afraid of
That the reader should fear death & separation from loved ones
In the poem "If We Must Die", which of the following phrases best describes the speaker of the poem's attitude towards death?
furious and upset
depressed and disgusted
defiant and dignified
calm and relaxed
The mask that Paul Dunbar describes in his poem "We Wear the Mask" is an example of what literary device?
Imagery
Alliteration
Symbolism
Metaphor
The speaker in the poem "My City" laments about...
Dying before being able to see Manhattan again
Dying trapped in a city
Not being able to live in New York ever again
Not being able to move to Manhattan
In Toomer's poem "Storm Ending", how does the progression of the storm contribute to the theme of the poem?
The storm becomes more and more violent, showing how a person must overcome difficult obstacles in life to gain rewards
The storm worsens throughout the poem, emphasizing the challenges the speaker is facing
The storm eventually subsides and the sun comes out, showing how difficult times always come to an end eventually
The storm stays consistently mild, emphasizing that difficult events are never as bad as they may seem
The theme of the poem "Mother to Son" is...
Life is meant to be carefree & happy
Work hard and you'll have financial success
Guard your heart, don't fall in love too quickly
Don't give up just because something's difficult
Which of the following best paraphrases the speaker's advice to the listener in the poem "If We Must Die"?
Do not fight against an enemy you cannot defeat.
Sometimes avoiding a tough fight is best.
Fight back, & don't give in, even if it's a losing fight
Avoid getting pushed up against the wall, or else the enemy will win.
As referenced in the poem "Harlem", what is a "dream deferred"?
A dream that doesn't come true
A dream that is delayed
A dream you have to pursue on your own
A dream that can only happen with support from your friends & family
What question is the speaker of the poem "My City" asking in the first stanza?
Who will remember me when I die?
Who will miss me the most when I die?
Why do good people have to die?
What will I miss the most when I die?
What happens to Sykes, Delia's husband, at the end of the short story "Sweat"?
He dies after being bitten by a dog
He dies after eating something that was poisoned
He dies after being bitten by a snake
He moves into Delia's house with his mistress
In the poem "Mother to Son", the extended metaphor of life being compared to a staircase helps the reader...
feel sorry for the struggling mother.
want a better life for the speaker’s son.
understand that the speaker’s life has been a constant struggle.
realize that the speaker feels as if her life will never get any better.
Spunk's character development throughout the short story "Spunk" is conveyed to the reader mainly through...
His actions
His words
What others are saying about him
None of the above
In the poem "Harlem", the poet shows the speaker's feelings mainly by...
Using personification to show the characteristics of a dream
Using similes to describe what happens to dreams
Using metaphors to describe what happens to dreams
None of the above
In the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" which statement best describes the importance of the 4 rivers (The Euphrates, The Congo, The Nile, & The Mississippi) mentioned in the poem?
All 4 rivers were places that the speaker has lived while growing up
The 4 rivers are some of the oldest in the world
All 4 rivers played an important role in the history of the ancestors of African Americans
All 4 rivers played a critical role throughout world history
Which statement best expresses a major theme of the short story "Sweat"?
Power can be dangerous when it lands in careless hands.
It's better to ignore negative influences than to confront them head-on
It's easier to see other's misfortunes than to see your own
The consequences of people's actions eventually catch up with them.
In the poem "My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun", what is Dickinson comparing the gun's owner to?
The speaker of the poem
The speaker's anger
The speaker's sadness
The speaker's joy
What is one theme of the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"?
The past can only drag us down, it's better to keep moving forward
People are connected through their heritage, culture, and ancestors
Getting older makes you think of rivers
Our past is more important than our future and must be preserved
What is the significance of the title of "Beat! Beat! Drums!" and the repetition of this phrase in the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd stanzas of the poem?
There is no significance, it's a stylistic choice
It sets and emphasizes the rythm for the rest of the poem
It creates a sound like drums
It's a historical allusion
Which statement best expresses a theme of the short story "Spunk"?
When people gossip, they may do more harm than they originally thought
When people gossip, they discover the truth about themselves
Gossip leads to new understands and respect among people
Gossip allows people to learn about their neighbors in a new and innovative way
How can the speakers tone best be described in the poem "Because I Could not Stop for Death"?
angry and bitter
calm and measured
energetic and curious
frantic and frightened
According to the poem "Success is Counted Sweetest", success is best understood by...
People who are always successful
People who are naturally talented
People who work hard & struggle
People who have failed
What poetic device is NOT used in this line from "Beat! Beat! Drums!"?
Alliteration
Repetition
Onomatopoeia
Imagery
The poem "My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun" is an example of which of the following poetic devices?
Dramatic Irony
Lists & Catalogs
Simile
Extended Metaphor
The following excerpt from "Ode to Walt Whitman" is an example of which poetic device?
Simile
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration
Metaphor
The theme of the poem "Success is counted sweetest" is...
You should always strive to succeed no matter what
People who have experienced failure are more likely to appreciate success
Only winners understand success
Success is over-rated
