"Sympathy" Poem Analysis
Which meaning of the word "faint" is used in line 6?
A) exhausted, B) whispered, C) lacking courage, D) barely noticeable
D) barely noticeable
Back and forth across the dancefloor, she floated like a butterfly.
What is smile?
Define: mood
The overall atmosphere of a literary work
The actual words spoken by an individual to another individual; written with quotations marks
What is dialogue?
What is the analogy that the author develops in paragraphs 1 and 2?
The author compares the paintbrush to a swallow, creating an image of the brush moving like a bird in flight, quickly and gracefully
In line 4, the phrase "like a stream of glass" suggests the water is:
A) cold, B) deep, C) dirty, D) smooth
D) smooth
The antique chair groaned under the weight of the heavy man.
What is personification?
Define: tone
The author's attitude toward the subject
The thoughts of an individual that are not necessarily shared aloud with other individuals but that are shared with the reader
What is reflection?
Sets a tone of awe and grace
Which of the following best describes the feeling created by the description in line 3?
A) peaceful, B) surprised, C) impatient, D) suspenseful
A) peaceful
The lone lioness lounged lazily in the light of the afternoon.
What is alliteration?
Define: antagonist
The character that the main character struggles against
Used by authors to show similarities or differences between things or ideas as a way to convey more precise information
What is comparison?
What allusion does the author make in the 2nd paragraph?
Refers to Picasso and Pollock, implying that the artist paints as well as these famous artists of the 20th century
How is the first stanza most different from the rest of the poem?
A) It suggests the bird is bored with his life, B) It describes how the bird looks rather than how he acts, C) It suggests the bird is unwise for wanting his life to change, D) It describes what the bird likely desires rather than what he experiences
D) It describes what the bird likely desires rather than what he experiences
My brother is the black sheep of the family.
What is metaphor (or idiom)?
Define: anaphora
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines in a poem
A short and interesting, sometimes funny, story; may include rich description and dialogue
What is anecdote?
What impact does the allusion in paragraph 2 have on the tone of the paragraph?
It creates a tone of admiration and respect
Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?
A) fearful, B) apologetic, C) passionate, D) wondering
C) passionate
What is allusion?
Define: omniscient
A comparison that explains a potentially new idea or thing by connecting it to a different and familiar idea or thing (or comparing two sets of ideas/things)
What is analogy?
What is the purpose of the author's use of analogy in the 3rd paragraph?
A) Describes a change in the artist's blending of color and shapes, B) Describes a change in the artist's perspective as he paints, C) Describes a change to a lighter, more delicate brushstroke, D) Describes a change to a stronger more powerful painting style
D) Describes a change to a stronger, more powerful painting style