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WorksheetsIdentity Poetry: 'Genetics' Quiz
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 9mins
Which form did Morrissey write 'Genetics' in?
Sonnet
Villanelle
Blank Verse
Free Verse
Which of the following is NOT a feature of this form?
Two lines which repeat in different places in the poem
19 lines
Regular ABA rhyme scheme
Starts and ends with a quatrain
Why did Morrissey choose to use this form?
She liked writing complex poetry
The repetition meant that she was able to focus her ideas more closely
The rhyme scheme reflects how she feels about her parents
The repetition symbolises how genetic material is passed from parent to child
What does the word 'repelled' suggest about the relationship between her parents?
That they pushed each other apart
That they weren't right for one another
That they hated each other
That the speaker feels bitterness toward their separation
What does the word 'demure' show about the speaker's parents?
They took their marriage seriously
They entered the marriage lightly
They were trying hard to make their marriage work
They were light-hearted and playful
How is the final stanza of the poem different from the others?
There are fewer lines in the final stanza
The final stanza is addressed to the speaker's husband
There is a tonal shift in the final stanza
The final stanza doesn't include repetition
Why does the poet choose to use half rhyme instead of full rhyme?
To add variety to the poem
To make a statement about separation and difference
To suggest the simplicity of life
To reflect how children are not perfect copies of either parent
Why does the speaker use the metaphor of the river in the third stanza?
To suggest that the relationship struggled and drowned in emotion
To suggest that it was a natural occurrence
To suggest that the relationship might have survived if they had tried a bit harder
To suggest that Morrissey feels bitter about what happened
The form of the poem has been described as having a cyclical structure. Why is this appropriate for this poem?
It reflects how life is cyclical in nature
It allows the poet to reinforce ideas
Morrissey worries that what happened to her parents will also happen to her
The last line of the poem has three important words showing the change in focus to a shared future. What are they?
We
parents
our
hands
us
How is the poem structured?
Six quatrains
Five tercets and a quatrain
Four tercets and two quatrains
Five tercets and a rhyming couplet
Morrissey specifically chose hands as the main image within the poem. What are the connotations of hands?
Linked to marriage and the wearing of wedding rings
Liked to the idea of showing affection/holding hands
Hands often used to tell a story of a person's life
Hands are a significant part of the body
What are the connotations of the word 'bequeath'?
Linked to the idea of leaving a will/what you leave behind for your family
Passing on wisdom
To leave your assets behind
Which line in the poem emphasises the idea that Morrissey remaining link between her parents?
'At least I know their marriage by my hands'
'I re-enact their wedding with my hands'
'My body is their marriage register'
'In me they touch where fingers link to palms'
Which pivotal event in Morrissey's life was the stimulus for this poem?
Her parent's divorce
The birth of her son
Her marriage to her husband
Her promotion in work
