Jane Wong reads “Dead Doe”

The transcript explores a poem by Bridget Bequin Kelly, focusing on its transformative power. It describes a dead doe and its symbolic presence, reflecting on nature, seasons, and change. The poem illustrates the transformation of the doe into swans, intertwining myth and reality, and challenges the reader's perception of life and death.

What is the initial setting described in the poem?

• A bustling city street

• A field of asters

• A crowded marketplace

• A dense forest

How does the poem describe the effect of the dead doe on the morning?

• It brightens the morning

• It lends a sense of stillness

• It causes chaos

• It brings a sense of joy

What does the poem suggest about the relationship between the dead and the living?

• The dead are a source of constant fear

• The dead have no influence on the living

• The dead can mother nothing but our sight

• The dead are forgotten quickly

What transformation occurs in the final section of the poem?

• The doe becomes a tree

• The doe transforms into swans

• The doe turns into a river

• The doe becomes a mountain

What theme is explored through the transformation of the doe into swans?

• The permanence of life

• The joy of discovery

• The inevitability of change

• The simplicity of nature