Reading Poetry with Bright Star

Does the poem have a regular rhyme scheme? If so, what is it?

• abba abba cdecde
• abab abab cdcdcd
• abba abba cdcdcd
• aabb aabb ccddcc

What other types of rhymes does the poem include, such as internal rhymes, sight rhymes, or near rhymes?

• Only sight rhymes
• Only near rhymes
• Both internal and sight rhymes
• Both sight and near rhymes

How does the rhyme scheme affect the poem’s sound, tone, or meaning?

• It creates a disjointed, fragmented feel
• It adds to the musical quality and coherence
• It disrupts the flow of the poem
• It creates a monotonous tone

Does the poem have a regular meter? If so, what is it?

• Iambic tetrameter
• Trochaic pentameter
• Iambic pentameter
• Anapestic tetrameter

Read the poem aloud. How does the meter affect the tone of the poem?

• Creates a casual, conversational tone
• Adds a formal, solemn tone
• Makes it appear sing-songy
• Enhances a celebratory feel

Does the poem follow a traditional form? If so, which?

• Villanelle
• Ode
• Sonnet
• Elegy

If the poem follows a traditional form, but has untraditional content, what might be the poet’s purpose in subverting the traditional form?

• To create irony
• To emphasize the theme
• To confuse the reader
• To follow a new poetic trend

If the poem does not follow a traditional form, what sort of logic structures the poem? For instance, why are the stanzas broken as they are? What is the relationship among the stanzas?

• Follows chronological order
• Follows thematic progression
• Follows a question-answer format
• Follows a visual pattern

What examples of enjambment can you find? How does the enjambment affect the sound and meaning of the line?

• It disrupts the flow and adds complexity
• It creates a smooth, continuous flow
• It makes the poem sound choppy
• It emphasizes the end of each line

What examples of caesura can you find? What is the impact of the caesura?

• Adds a pause for reflection
• Disrupts the rhythm
• Enhances the musical quality
• Creates a visual break