Crossing The Bar

Question 1

Crossing the bar

Form

Answer 1

4 stanzas
4 lines each
ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH

Question 2

Crossing the bar

Attitude

Answer 2

The speaker is the author.

He knows of his impending death, but has a hopeful rather than gloomy attitude.

Question 3

Crossing the bar

Shift

Answer 3

Lines 9-10 there is a change in time.

Question 4

Crossing the bar

Theme

Answer 4

Death shouldn’t be mourned

Question 5

Crossing the bar

Paraphrase

Answer 5

The speaker is going out to sea and hopes that he does not have to cross a sandbar. He doesn’t want any mourning when he sets out and hopes to see his “pilot” on the other side of the sandbar.
The sandbar represents death.