UNLOCKING MEANING IN POETRY

Unlocking Meaning in Poetry

• Before we begin, number the lines and stanzas on your paper copy.

• Then, take a moment to read the poem quietly to yourself.

​Poem: Escape the Wild
by Chatty Petite

Multiple Choice

What does the phrase “the city’s song” (line 3) most likely refer to?

A. The actual music played in the city

B. The noises and energy of city life

C. A song the speaker listens to on the radio

D. A story about the city’s history

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What does the phrase “soft as a dream, light as the moon” (line 8) suggest?

A. The river is peaceful and gentle.

B. The river is dangerous and unpredictable.

C. The river disappears at night.

D. The river is hard to see in the dark.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

In line 9, what does the poet mean by “The sky is painted orange and gold”?

A. Someone actually painted the sky.

B. The sun is setting and creating a beautiful view.

C. The sky is covered in gold and orange paint.

D. The sky is covered in pollution.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Which line from the poem contains a metaphor?

A. "The whispering trees call out my name"

B. "Soft as a dream, light as the moon"

C. "The flashing lights, the pounding beats."

D. "The grass, a velvet, emerald sea."

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

The phrase "The whispering trees call out my name" (line 6) is an example of

A. Simile

B. Metaphor

C. Personification

D. Alliteration

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What is being compared in the simile, “Soft as a dream, light as the moon” (line 8)?

A. The river is being compared to a dream and the moon.

B. The sky is being compared to a dream and the moon.

C. The city is being compared to a song.

D. The trees are being compared to whispers.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What is the main contrast in the poem?

A. The difference between young and old people

B. The difference between summer and winter

C. The difference between city life and nature

D. The difference between night and day

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

How does the speaker feel about nature?

A. They feel nervous about being away from the city.

B. They find nature peaceful and welcoming.

C. They think nature is boring compared to the city.

D. They miss the sounds of the city.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Which phrase best helps the reader visualize nature as peaceful?

A. “The flashing lights, the pounding beats.”

B. “The whispering trees call out my name.”

C. “Among the towers, tall and gray?”

D. “The city’s song is loud and brig

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of the last stanza?
"So tell me, friend, where would you stay—
Among the towers, tall and gray?
Or where the hills and forests call,
And time slows down to nothing at all?"

A. To challenge the reader to think about their preference between city and nature

B. To explain the dangers of living in the city

C. To convince the reader to stay in the city

D. To describe what life in the city is like

• A

• B

• C

• D

Open Ended

How does the poet use figurative language to create mood and emotion in the poem? Provide examples from the text.

Poll

Which figurative language technique do you think has the biggest impact on a poem’s meaning?

• A) Metaphor – It creates deep and powerful comparisons.

• B) Simile – It makes descriptions more vivid and relatable.

• C) Personification – It brings objects and nature to life.

• D) All of them! – Each one adds something unique to a poem.