G.10 Literature: Short Essay Quiz

What phrase does the speaker repeat throughout the poem?

Answer explanation

He repeats, “I wake to sleep.”

How does the speaker understand the process of “thinking”?

Answer explanation

He understands thinking as a process
of feeling, of moving through the world
and using all of one’s senses.

What creature does the speaker use as an example for gaining knowledge?

Answer explanation

He uses the lowly worm climbing up a
winding stair.

Which parts of nature does the speaker experience in his “waking”?

Answer explanation

He experiences the ground, the trees,
and the air.

Which THREE adjectives best describe the overall mood or feeling of the poem?

Answer explanation

The mood of the poem is joyous,
expectant, and eager.

What are the workmen doing? ( The Reapers)

Answer explanation

The workers are sharpening their scythes
with stones.

Why is the mower blade seen as inhuman? ( The Reapers)

Answer explanation

It kills a fi eld rat without stopping.

What does the speaker see on the blade? ( The Reapers)

Answer explanation

The speaker sees the blood of the rat.

What are the most important colors in the poem and what kind of mood do they establish? ( The Reapers)

Answer explanation

The most important colors are black and
red; they establish a dark and grim tone.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? ( The Reapers)

Answer explanation

The poem has four pairs of rhymed lines.