Unit 5 Test Review

Read this excerpt from Poem 6 of "Song of Myself":

I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise,
Regardless of others, ever regardful of others,
Maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man,
Stuff'd with the stuff that is coarse and stuff´d with the stuff that is fine, 

Why does Whitman create these pairs of opposites?

• to create division and separation between different age groups

• to make a distinction between mothers' and fathers' roles

• to draw attention to those in society who are strong and those that are weak

• to illustrate, celebrate, and embody America's diversity

Which theme is central to Whitman's poetry as shown in the following opening lines from "Song of Myself"?

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself, 

And what I assume you shall assume

For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you"

• The interconnectedness of all living beings

• 
  

  The inevitability of death

• The pursuit of individualism and freedom

• The beauty of nature and its healing power

Whitman is known as one of the greatest American poets of all time. How did he push against the boundaries of traditional poetry?

• By using long, flowing sentences and complex grammar

• By incorporating everyday language and popular sayings

• 
  

  By rejecting traditional rhyme and meter in favor of free verse

• By using only religious themes and imagery

The following lines are from Poem 52 at the end of "Song of Myself."

"I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,

I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, 

If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles."

Which technique is Whitman using in the bolded sections?

• epic poem

• imagery

• parallel structure

• simile

The following lines are from Poem 52 at the end of "Song of Myself."

"I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,

I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, 

If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles."

Which technique is Whitman using in the bolded sections?

• It emphasizes the finality of death.

• It portrays life as a series of random events.

• It shows his belief that life is a cycle and we become part of nature when we die.

• It reinforces the separation between humans and nature. 

How did Emily Dickinson's use of dashes (--) in her poetry reflect her unique style?

• 
  

  By adding a sense of urgency to her words

• By indicating pauses or shifts in thought

• By separating contrasting ideas or images

• All of the above

In her poem "I Heard a Fly Buzz -- When I Died," Dickinson describes a fly buzzing around when the speaker dies. What does the fly represent?

• It shows that everyone will die someday. 

• It shows how everyday things can happen even during important moments.

• It symbolizes angels coming to take the speaker away.

• It means that her body is starting to break down already. 

Which of the words from the following lines from "Because I Could Not Stop For Death" show slant rhyme?

"We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground -

The Roof was scarcely visible -

The Cornice - in the ground -"

• Ground and Ground

• Visible and Ground

• House and Ground

• 
  

  Seemed and Ground

In "Because I Could Not Stop For Death," the speaker is riding in a carriage with Death. Along the way, they pass a school where children are playing during recess, fields of grain, and the setting sun. What do these things symbolize?

• the stages of life (childhood, adulthood, old age)

• different seasons of the year

• times of day

• the beauty of nature

How did Whitman and Dickinson show the Romantic ideas of individualism and personal expression in their poetry?

• 
  

  They wrote about the beauty of nature and personal feelings.

• 
  They focused on city life and modern technology.

• They followed strict rules and traditional forms of poetry. 

• They ignored emotions and wrote only about facts.