English Poetry

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone: Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! Based on the word choice, the speaker's overall tone is angry. encouraging. mournful. loving.

B

One characteristic of the Romantic period was an interest in innovation. the use of self-control. an emphasis on order. the use of imagination.

D

Read the stanza from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." (1) I wandered lonely as a cloud (2) That floats on high o'er vales and hills, (3) When all at once I saw a crowd, (4) A host, of golden daffodils; (5) Beside the lake, beneath the trees, (6) Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Which line in this stanza uses repetition? Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5

D

What motifs are predominant in traditional haiku? Check all that apply. time nature religion politics change

A, B, E

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze This excerpt is an example of Romantic poetry because it hints at how people should live. uses everyday language. studies nature logically. is based on a folktale.

B

Read these poems. What motif is addressed in both forms of poetry? seasons nature greed love

B

Read the haiku. Birds scatter in flight Colorful specks in the air Noisy confetti The main feature that makes this a haiku is the use of a seasonal motif. a patterned rhyme. a 5/7/5 syllable pattern. past tense and free structure.

C

Read the haiku. Many flowers bloom But no fruit follows in time Bare vines remain. Which word reveals the idea of disappointment? flowers bloom time bare

D

William Wordsworth is considered one of the central writers of the Romantic period because his poems draw inspiration from the natural world. discuss scientific laws governing nature. show people's logical place in the universe. suggest the importance of new inventions.

A

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Which statement best describes the lines that are underlined in this excerpt? Both lines contain alliteration, which creates a cheerful tone. Both lines contain alliteration, which draws attention to the speaker's feelings. The lines use rhyme to transition from deep thought to a joyful memory. The lines use rhyme to show the speaker's feelings of isolation.

C

The poem's mood is best described as its .

feeling

Japanese haiku differ from English romantic poems because a haiku presents a single moment through its brief structure. a haiku creates a steady rhythm with its patterned rhyme. a haiku uses free form and often includes several stanzas. a haiku weaves lengthy tales of people's struggles with nature.

A

Which line from William Wordsworth's poem uses alliteration? Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the milky way, They stretched in never-ending line Along the margin of a bay:

A

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from Keats's poem "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles." So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. The theme of the passage relates to the theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn" by supporting it. contradicting it. summarizing it. illustrating it.

B

Read the fourth stanza from "Mutability." It is the same!—For, be it joy or sorrow, The path of its departure still is free: Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability. Which best states the idea conveyed in the last line of this stanza? Nothing in this world is worth holding on to. Change is the only thing that is eternal. Time heals even the very worst of sorrows. Each day is a fleeting and precious gift.

B

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." What men or gods are these? What maidens loth? What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape? What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy? What is the impact of Keats's repetition of the word what? It explains the overall theme. It makes the poem more formal. It emphasizes the curious tone of the speaker. It expresses the thoughts of the people on the urn.

C

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." I wandered lonely as a cloud That floats on high o'er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Which word from the excerpt has a negative connotation? lonely floats golden fluttering

A

Read the haiku. Each tree in the yard Announces its vigor With buds on each branch. What is the kigo in this haiku? tree yard buds branch

C

Read the haiku by Bashō. The crane's legs have gotten shorter in the spring rain. What motif is presented in the poem? change growth family faith

A

Read the excerpt from "A Defence of Poetry." And this springs from the nature itself of language, which is a more direct representation of the actions and passions of our internal being, and is susceptible of more various and delicate combinations, than colour, form, or motion, and is more plastic and obedient to the control of that faculty of which it is the creation. For language is arbitrarily produced by the imagination and has relation to thoughts alone; but all other materials, instruments and conditions of art, have relations among each other, which limit and interpose between conception and expression. In this excerpt, Shelley expresses the idea that language comes from imagination. education. expressions. passions.

A

Read the passage from "Mutability." We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon; How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver, Streaking the darkness radiantly!—yet soon Night closes round, and they are lost for ever: By contrasting "darkness" with "radiantly," Shelley emphasizes that although life is fleeting, it is exciting. compares the spark of creativity to the enduring night sky. introduces the idea that people are destined to live life in darkness. explains that people are permanent, bright fixtures like the heavens.

A

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Fair youth, beneath the trees, thou canst not leave Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare; Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss, Though winning near the goal—yet, do not grieve; She cannot fade, though thou hast not thy bliss, For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair! Which theme does the passage most convey? Unrequited love is still timeless. Youth is fleeting and fickle. Music is the spice of life. True beauty is found in nature.

A

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Who are these coming to the sacrifice? To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead'st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands drest? What little town by river or sea shore, Or mountain-built with peaceful citadel, Is emptied of this folk, this pious morn? And, little town, thy streets for evermore Will silent be; and not a soul to tell Why thou art desolate, can e'er return. How does word choice affect the tone in this section of the poem? The tone changes from curious to lonely. The tone changes from admiring to bored. The tone changes from irritated to peaceful. The tone changes from unhappy to reassured.

A

Read the poems. Which statement best describes the differences between these poems? The haiku shares a distinct event in nature, while the romantic poem relays a personal experience with nature. The haiku relies on a kigo to describe a season, while the romantic poem uses patterned rhyme for effect. The haiku uses present tense to share a moment in time, while the romantic poem uses past tense to retell an old tale. The haiku celebrates the solitude of night, while the romantic poem suggests that nighttime leads to suffering.

A

Read the second stanza from "Mutability." Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings Give various response to each varying blast, To whose frail frame no second motion brings One mood or modulation like the last. What is the effect of using the words dissonant and various to describe the sounds made by the lyre, a musical instrument? They emphasize differences. They suggest disagreement. They emphasize imagination. They suggest a lack of control.

A

Read the second stanza from "Mutability." We rest.—A dream has power to poison sleep; We rise.—One wandering thought pollutes the day; We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep; Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away What is the effect of the words poison and pollutes in this stanza? They emphasize the idea that thoughts can have negative effects. They illustrate the negative effects of not getting enough sleep. They show that negative thoughts alone are able to destroy one's life. They suggest that human beings tend to be inherently negative.

A

Which topic would most likely have been the focus of a poem during the Romantic period? the beauty of a waterfall the science of rainbows arguments for progress defining order in society

A

William Wordsworth often used repetition in his poetry to create rhythm and emphasize ideas. highlight scientific facts and findings. argue in a logical, structured manner. show readers a rational new idea.

A

Read the excerpt from "A Defence of Poetry." A poem is the very image of life expressed in its eternal truth. There is this difference between a story and a poem, that a story is a catalogue of detached facts, which have no other connexion than time, place, circumstance, cause and effect; the other is the creation of actions according to the unchangeable forms of human nature, as existing in the mind of the Creator, which is itself the image of all other minds. Which statements best describe how "Mutability" reflects the idea in this excerpt? Check all that apply. It is a poem about life and human nature. It occurs at a particular time and place. It uses images to express universal truths about life. It contains a list of various facts that tell a story. It provides examples of causes and effects in nature.

A, C

Read the excerpt from "A Defence of Poetry." A poem is the very image of life expressed in its eternal truth. There is this difference between a story and a poem, that a story is a catalogue of detached facts, which have no other connexion than time, place, circumstance, cause and effect; the other is the creation of actions according to the unchangeable forms of human nature, as existing in the mind of the Creator, which is itself the image of all other minds. This excerpt expresses Shelley's idea that poetry is factual. timeless. detached. unrealistic.

B

Read the excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud." For oft, when on my couch I lie In vacant or in pensive mood, They flash upon that inward eye Which is the bliss of solitude; And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils. Which words best describe the tone of this excerpt? A. bored and lonely B. peaceful and content C. excited and enthusiastic D. emotional and anxious

B

Read the excerpt from the poem "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles" by John Keats. Such dim-conceived glories of the brain Bring round the heart an indescribable feud; So do these wonders a most dizzy pain, That mingles Grecian grandeur with the rude Wasting of old Time—with a billowy main— A sun—a shadow of a magnitude. Which theme does this passage support? Even the human mind cannot overcome time. Even art is affected by the ravages of time. Art remains unchanged over time. Time and age bring wisdom.

B

Read the passage from "A Defence of Poetry." A poet participates in the eternal, the infinite, and the one; as far as relates to his conceptions, time and place and number are not. In his poem "Mutability," Shelley focuses on the beauty of nature rather than addressing time. contradicts this idea by focusing on the inevitability of change. explains the importance of music in the inspiration of humankind. supports this idea with figurative language focused on timelessness.

B

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu; And, happy melodist, unwearied, For ever piping songs for ever new What does the speaker say about the main topic of the passage? He complains that happiness is hard to find. He praises the advantages of being frozen in time. He bemoans being stuck playing the same tune forever. He admires the way the trees reflect the beauty of nature.

B

Read the passage from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear'd, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone Keats uses the phrase "spirit ditties" to describe the music the gods on the urn favor the most. songs the people on the urn appear to be playing. music created by blowing across the top of the urn. songs that were popular at the time the urn was made.

B

Read the analysis of a theme from "Ode on a Grecian Urn." One theme in "Ode on a Grecian Urn" is that art is an eternal and unchanging truth. Now, read the passage from "Ozymandias," another poem from the romantic period. And on the pedestal these words appear: "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. While the theme of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" focuses on how art is eternal, the theme of "Ozymandias" focuses on how royalty is superior. nature endures. things change. deserts are lonely.

C

Read the passages. "A Defence of Poetry" Poetry thus makes immortal all that is best and most beautiful in the world; it arrests the vanishing apparitions which haunt the interlunations of life, and veiling them, or in language or in form, sends them forth among mankind. "Mutability" We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon; How restlessly they speed, and gleam, and quiver, Streaking the darkness radiantly!—yet soon Night closes round, and they are lost for ever How does the first stanza of "Mutability" reflect the idea expressed in this excerpt from "A Defence of Poetry"? It demonstrates poetry's ability to make all things "immortal" by referring to images from nature that have existed for centuries. It demonstrates poetry's ability to send images "forth among mankind" by explaining in detail how this is accomplished. It demonstrates poetry's ability to "arrest the vanishing apparitions" of life by preserving an image of a fleeting moment in time. It demonstrates poetry's ability to portray all things as "beautiful" by taking an unpleasant image and depicting it as a lovely one.

C

Which line of poetry best imparts a sorrowful mood? droplets keep a steady beat summer showers refresh the scene bare feet splash in puddled rain branches droop as gray skies loom

D

In "A Defence of Poetry," Shelley suggests that emotions experienced in life are constantly changing. Which lines from "Mutability" can also be seen as a reflection of this idea? Streaking the darkness radiantly!—yet soon Night closes round, and they are lost for ever We rest.—A dream has power to poison sleep; We rise.—One wandering thought pollutes the day We feel, conceive or reason, laugh or weep; Embrace fond woe, or cast our cares away Man's yesterday may ne'er be like his morrow; Nought may endure but Mutability.

XXX D

Knowing that art is the ___________, or subject, of "Ode on a Grecian Urn" helps the reader understand the themes in the poem.

topic