Poem Analysis
Who is the narrator of "The Echoing Green"?
You
The reader
The Echoing Green
William Blake
William Blake
When the speaker states “like birds in their nest,” what type of figurative language is he using?
Metaphor
Rhyming
Simile
Personification
simile
How many lines are included in each stanza of "The Echoing Green"?
3
5
10
30
Using letters of the alphabet, what would be the rhyme scheme of "The Echoing Green"?
AABBCCDDEE
ABABCDCDEE
ABBACDDCEE
ABCDEABCDE
AABBCCDDEE
What is a simile?
Comparing two things using like or as.
What time of year is it in "The Echoing Green"?
Late summer
Middle of winter
Beginning of Spring
The narrator doesn’t tell us.
What do the “Many sisters and brothers” have in common with “birds in their nest”?
The children and birds aren’t safe.
The birds are mothers wishing they had babies to care for.
The sisters and brothers play like birds.
The children are safe in their mother’s arms similar to baby birds in a nest with their mother.
The children are safe in their mother’s arms similar to baby birds in a nest with their mother.
Name one sensory detail used in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers."
All are used in the poem.
How does the rhyme scheme contribute to the poem's overall feeling?
Answers will vary. It contributes to the poem's overall feeling because the rhyming allows it to flow and creates a more joyful feeling when reading.
What is a stanza?
a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem
How do “Old John, with white hair” and the other “old folk” feel as they watch the children play?
Upset and frustrated
Happy and joyful
Confused
They don’t mention how they feel.
Happy and joyful
How many stanzas are in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"?
1
2
3
4
3
What has the narrator experienced in terms of what he hears in "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"?
"I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went down to New Orleans"
Identify the rhyme pattern of the first stanza of "The Echoing Green" using letters.
AABBCCDDEE
How many lines can there be in a stanza?
Any number of lines
In three sentences, summarize “The Echoing Green.”
Answers will vary.
A joyful scene as people are excited to transition to the Spring season. Children are playing in the grass while laughing. Additionally, the older people are watching and reminiscing about their childhood years.
What is the tone of “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”?
Sad
Joyful
Reflective
Angry
Joyful
"I've known rivers"
Is there a rhyme scheme in the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers?"
No, there is not a rhyme scheme in this poem.
What is tone?
Tone is the author's attitude toward a subject or theme, as conveyed through their word choice, sentence structure, and punctuation
What are some reasons the poet might change “On the echoing Green” to “On the darkening Green”?
Answers will vary.
The poet may be emphasizing particular ideas or phrases to add musical or cyclical qualities to the poem or to make the poem sound more pleasing or distinctive to listeners.
List 6 rhyming words found in "The Echoing Green" with their given lines.
Answers will vary.
Find an example of a metaphor and simile in the poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"
Metaphor:
Answers will vary; "older than the flow of human blood in human veins"
Simile:
Answers will vary; "My soul had grown deep like the rivers."
Spring
Silver
Marathon
Sneezy
Silver and marathon
Define poem
A poem is a piece of writing that uses a variety of elements to convey a story, emotion, or idea to the reader.