Vocabulary
What does the word “morn” mean in the poem?
A. Night
B. Noon
C. Morning
D. Evening
C. Morning
In the phrase '...under a cruel eye outworn..', the 'cruel eye' is a metaphor for:
A. The schoolboy
B. Nature
C. School
D. The teacher
D. The teacher
The poem mainly criticizes—
A. Nature
B. Strict schooling
C. Parents
D. Animals
B. Strict schooling
Which image from the poem appeals to the sense of hearing?
A. “Tender plants are strip’d”
B. “Birds sing on every tree”
C. “Drooping sit”
D. “Sighing and dismay”
B. “Birds sing on every tree”
In the poem, “dismay” most nearly means—
A. Joy
B. Misery
C. Confusion
D. Anger
B. Misery
The bird “born for joy” that sits “in a cage” is an example of—
A. Symbolism
B. Onomatopoeia
C. Irony
D. Foreshadowing
A. Symbolism
The speaker believes that children learn best when they feel—
A. Afraid
B. Controlled
C. Free and joyful
D. Punished
C. Free and joyful
$200 Question
The image of “buds are nip’d” refers to—
A. Children losing their early happiness and innocence
B. The start of summer
C. The growth of plants
D. A gardener trimming flowers
A. Children losing their early happiness and innocence
What does “drooping” suggest about the speaker’s mood?
A. Energetic
B. Hopeful
C. Weak and discouraged
D. Confident
C. Weak and discouraged
Which literary device appears in the line “...droop his tender wing”?
A. Personification
B. Metaphor
C. Alliteration
D. Oxymoron
B. Metaphor
One major theme is that—
A. Discipline creates creativity
B. Childhood joy must be protected
C. Nature is dangerous
D. School is more important than freedom
B. Childhood joy must be protected
Why does Blake include imagery of “blasts of winter”?
A. To show a weather change
B. To symbolize the harsh effects of emotional suffering
C. To describe a storm
D. To contrast with the summer sun
B. To symbolize the harsh effects of emotional suffering
In the line “Worn thro' with the dreary shower,” the word “shower” is best interpreted as—
A. Rain
B. Tears
C. A series of troubles
D. A celebration
C. A series of troubles
The entire poem’s comparison of a restricted child to a caged bird represents—
A. Extended metaphor
B. Allegory
C. Pun
D. Paradox
A. Extended metaphor
The final stanza emphasizes that restricting children emotionally may lead to—
A. Academic success
B. Growth and maturity
C. Lifelong sorrow that stunts development
D. Happiness in adulthood
C. Lifelong sorrow that stunts development
Which interpretation best connects the poem’s natural imagery to its message?
A. Nature represents chaos, like school
B. Seasonal cycles symbolize the stages of emotional development
C. Trees show how school shapes the world
D. Hunting imagery reflects academic competition
B. Seasonal cycles symbolize the stages of emotional development