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Worksheets5 P.M., Tuesday, August 23, 2005 Poetry Practice
Total questions: 19
Worksheet time: 15mins
Why does the poem begin by describing the storm in detail?
To give background for the events
To show the speaker’s personal hobbies
To exaggerate the storm for humor
To confuse the reader
Lines 17–18 use words that suggest the speaker’s attitude. What best describes it?
Quiet sadness
Tense anticipation
Sarcastic humor
Relaxed boredom
Which phrase from lines 19–22 makes the storm seem threatening?
I console myself
The brine shivers
A bored breath
Every woman begins as weather
Which two phrases best show the storm’s strength?
Grave threat
Violent crime
Gentle touch
Confusing event
Why does the poet give human traits to the storm?
To imagine the storm as a person
To help the reader feel its strength
To describe other storms
To show flaws in nature
How is the ocean described throughout the poem?
Defiant at first, then overcome
Calm at first, then angry
Friendly, then recognizes danger
Neutral, then helpful
Which line hints at the storm’s destructive power?
…a mouth, thrashing hair…
I pull in a bored breath
Small dips in my dawning system
Every woman harbors a chaos
How does the poet show power and danger in the storm?
By comparing it to human anger and using phrases like “a crime behind my teeth”
By showing the ocean as friendly and calm
By describing the speaker’s personal hobbies
By listing hurricane stages
What is one main idea of the poem?
Nature and people have hidden strength
All storms are dangerous
Only women can create chaos
Life is always predictable
The phrase “a crime behind my teeth” suggests…
The speaker is joking
The speaker feels secret anger or threat
The speaker is confused
The speaker is tired
The line “Every woman begins as weather” is an example of…
Simile
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Alliteration
How does the poet make the storm feel alive?
By giving it human qualities and movement
By listing its measurements
By showing the speaker’s boredom
By comparing it to calm water
STANZA 1
Over the years, my dog has worn a path
edging a vacant field.
Experience has taught her to avoid thistles and stinging
nettle.
From thousands of walks, she’s learned where plantain
are soft—
to expect from pokeweed and piled stones,
from certain crevices,
exhilarating scents.
In the first stanza, the poet uses the words “Over the years” and “From thousands of walks” to —
show that the dog still finds the walk exciting
suggest that each walk follows the same sequence of events
illustrate what the dog enjoys about going on a walk
describe the reasons why the pasture is off-limits
Dad slept like a dog last night
Simile
Metaphor
Identify one example of imagery in the poem. Explain which sense it appeals to (sight, sound, touch, etc.) and what effect it creates.
Ask yourself "What picture does the line create in your mind?"
