Poetry Unit Test - Poems & Literary Devices

Question 1

Nothing gold can stay - What does “Nature’s first green is gold” mean?

Answer 1

It means that the first signs of spring are beautiful and precious, symbolizing youth and innocence, but this beauty is fleeting.

Question 2

Nothing gold can stay - How does eden sank to giet relate to the poems message

Answer 2

A: The allusion to Eden highlights the loss of innocence and the inevitability of change, emphasizing that early beauty or perfection cannot last.

Question 3

Nothing gold can stay - What does “Dawn goes down to day” symbolize?

Answer 3

It symbolizes the passage of time and the loss of innocence, as the pure, fleeting beauty of dawn transitions into the routine of day.

Question 4

Nothing gold can stay - How does the poem use personification and symbolism?

Answer 4

Nature is personified in “her hardest hue to hold,” showing its struggle to maintain its beauty. Gold and green symbolize purity, innocence, and rarity, contrasting with the inevitability of loss and change.

Question 5

Nothing gold can stay - what is the theme of the poem

Answer 5

The theme is the inevitability of change and the transient nature of good things, urging readers to appreciate fleeting moments of beauty and innocence while they last.

Question 6

The road not taken - imagery, symbolism, personification

Answer 6

Imagery: “Yellow wood” and “bent in the undergrowth” create vivid pictures of the scene.

Symbolism: The roads represent life choices.

Personification: The road “wanted wear,” suggesting it desires to be traveled.

Question 7

Road not taken - theme

Answer 7

making life choices and the significance of choosing a unique path, even when it differs from others, as it can have a profound impact.

Question 8

1958 - theme

Answer 8

The difficulty of navigating high school social standards, the toll of conformity on individuality, and the universal struggle of trying to fit in during youth.

Question 9

‘Oh me oh life’ - meaning

Answer 9

The poem reflects on the struggles and frustrations of life, questioning its purpose. Despite humanity’s flaws, the speaker concludes that life’s value lies in the opportunity for each person to make a meaningful contribution—symbolized by the “powerful play” and the “verse” they can add. It inspires finding purpose and leaving a lasting impact.

Question 10

Oh captain my captain - significance

Answer 10

The title refers to the speaker’s deep respect and sorrow for the captain. It symbolizes a public tribute to a leader who has passed, particularly reflecting the pain of losing someone important after a victory. In the context of the poem, it alludes to Abraham Lincoln’s death after the Civil War, marking the loss of a leader who guided them to success.

Question 11

Oh captain my captain - theme

Answer 11

The poem explores the theme of bittersweet victory—acknowledging that even when a great triumph is achieved, it often comes with personal loss. It touches on sacrifice, leadership, and the emotional toll of victory. The speaker mourns the death of their captain (symbolizing Lincoln) and the cost of the war despite the celebration of success.

Question 12

Love song of prufrock - theme

Answer 12

The main theme is the internal conflict of self-doubt, isolation, and the fear of rejection. The speaker, J. Alfred Prufrock, struggles with the desire for human connection but is paralyzed by his insecurities, ultimately reflecting on his inability to take action and engage with life. The poem explores themes of alienation and the passage of time.

Question 13

Dreams differed - theme

Answer 13

explores the consequences of unfulfilled dreams, particularly those of African Americans in a society where racial inequality prevents the realization of their aspirations. Hughes poses the question of what happens to a dream that is delayed or denied, suggesting that deferred dreams may “sag like a heavy load” or “explode,” symbolizing frustration and potential destruction when dreams are continually suppressed.

putting off dreams for long enough will fade.

Question 14

Dreams - theme

Answer 14

emphasizes the importance of holding on to dreams and aspirations. Hughes suggests that dreams are vital to life and purpose, and without them, life becomes bleak and devoid of meaning. The poem warns that when dreams are lost or abandoned, life becomes like a “broken-winged bird” or a “barren field,” symbolizing hopelessness and unfulfilled potential.

chase your dreams so that you don’t have emptiness within your life.

Question 15

A dream within a dream

Answer 15

explores the elusiveness and uncertainty of life, questioning the nature of reality and the fragility of human experiences. Poe reflects on the idea that life itself may be nothing more than a dream, emphasizing the fleeting and transient nature of time and human existence. The poem conveys a sense of loss and despair, as the speaker grapples with the idea that what they hold dear may slip away like sand through their fingers.

personification, imagery, exaggeration. sometimes our dreams can go away

Question 16

I am a teenager - theme

Answer 16

focuses on the identity and emotional struggles of adolescence. The poem explores the complexities of being a teenager, including the tension between independence and the need for guidance, the search for self-understanding, and the challenges of navigating social pressures. It captures the feelings of confusion, rebellion, and growth that define this stage of life, highlighting both the struggles and the potential for self-discovery.

Question 17

Sweet like a crow

Answer 17

explores the complexities of identity, beauty, and the contrast between appearances and deeper truths. The crow, often symbolizing something dark or misunderstood, is described as “sweet,” which suggests that things or individuals that are often judged or marginalized can hold unexpected beauty or value. The poem challenges conventional notions of what is considered beautiful or desirable, urging readers to reconsider how they perceive the world and the people around them.

Question 18

Good Kid by Kendrick Lamar - theme

Answer 18

revolves around the struggle of maintaining innocence and goodness while growing up in a challenging and sometimes dangerous environment. Kendrick Lamar reflects on the tension between his upbringing in Compton, where influences like peer pressure, violence, and street culture are ever-present, and his desire to remain a “good kid” with moral values. The song explores themes of identity, choices, and the complexity of navigating life as a young person in a difficult neighborhood, highlighting the internal conflict between staying true to oneself and fitting into societal expectations or external pressures.

Question 19

I, too - theme

Answer 19

empowerment and racial equality. The poem addresses the African American experience during segregation and racism, asserting the speaker’s dignity and right to be treated as an equal. Through the declaration “I, too, sing America,” Hughes affirms that African Americans are an integral part of American society, despite being marginalized. The poem suggests that one day, the speaker will no longer be excluded but will be accepted and respected as an equal, reflecting hope for social change and racial justice.

Question 20

define literary device

Our hands were firmly cemented.

Answer 20

Hyperbole: over exaggerations for effect

Question 21

define literary device

‘Oh captain, my captain” - death and triumph

Answer 21

Irony: contrast between actual meaning and suggestion of another meaning

Question 22

define literary device

“two roads diverged in a yellow wood…”

Answer 22

imagery: the use of words to represent things, actions, or ideas by a sensory description

Question 23

define literary device

“the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse”

Answer 23

paradox: a statement which appears self-contradictory, but underlines the basis of truth

Question 24

define literary device

“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.”

“beautiful tyrant!”

Answer 24

oxymoron: contradictory terms brough together to express a paradox: strong effect

Question 25

define literary device

“In the room, the women come and go / Talking of Michelangelo”

Answer 25

allusion: reference to outside fact, event or other source.

Question 26

what is a sonnet

Answer 26

-14 line poem written in iambic pentameter, which employ several rhyme schemes and adhere to a tightly structured thematic organization.
-Petrarchan and the Shakespearean.

Question 27

define the poetic device

“oh me! oh life!”

“all that we see or seem / is but a dream within a dream”

Answer 27

assonance: sequential repetition of vowel sounds particularly in stressed syllables.

Question 28

define the poetic device

“of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish”

Answer 28

consonance: repetition of a pattern of consonants withing rods which the separating vowels

Question 29

define cynical

Answer 29

disapproval or resentful or distrust

Question 30

define lament

Answer 30

a passionate expression of grief or sorrow

ex. oh captain my captain

Question 31

define ellagic

Answer 31

praising, mourning and sad tone

ex. oh captain my captain

Question 32

define lugubrious

Answer 32

exaggeration, over the top, too much

ex. oh captain my captain