Assignment: To a Waterfowl by William Cullen Bryant

1.Answer the questions to the right of 1. Whither1, 'midst falling dew,

the poem. 2. While glow the heavens with the last steps of day, Commented [KH1]: At what time is the waterfowl
2. Identify ideas from the Romantic 3. Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue leaving?
time period 4. Thy solitary way?
3. how would the Puritans have
reacted to this piece?
4. How would the Deists react to this
5. Vainly the fowler's eye2 Commented [KH3]: Note that the fowler is not the same
6. Might mark thy distant flight to do thee wrong, person as the poet who is addressing the bird. Do you think
piece? the poet is capable of also being the fowler, in view of what
5. Identify ALL poetic devices-start 7. As, darkly painted on the crimson sky,
he says?
with rhyme scheme that’s easy 8. Thy figure floats along.
Commented [KH4]: What danger faces the waterfowl in
this stanza
Word Bank 9. Seek'st thou the plashy3 brink
Sound is the phonetic aspect of human 10. Of weedy lake, or marge 4of river wide,
speech 11. Or where the rocking billows5 rise and sink
Alliteration 12. On the chafed 6ocean side? Commented [KH5]: He gives three different possible
Consonance destinations for the waterfowl--lake, marsh, and sea. Do they
Assonance have any ideas why he does this? What do they have in
Onomatopoeia
13. There is a Power whose care
common? How are they different?
End Rhyme 14. Teaches thy way along that pathless coast,--
15. The desert and illimitable 7air,-- Commented [KH6]: Why is the word Power capitalized in
Rhyme Scheme this stanza?
Internal Rhyme 16. Lone wandering, but not lost.
Figurative Language is the use of
words to mean something other than 17. All day thy wings have fann'd
their literal meaning 18. At that far height, the cold thin atmosphere:
Personification 19. Yet stoop not, weary, 8to the welcome land, Commented [KH7]: What do "cold thin atmosphere,
Imagery 20. Though the dark night is near. stoop, weary," and "welcome" add to the picture of the bird,
Metaphor both concretely and symbolically? What is this bird's flight
Extended Metaphor beginning to represent?
Simile
21. And soon that toil shall end,
Symbol 22. Soon shalt thou find a summer home, and rest,
Allusion 23. And scream among thy fellows; reeds shall bend
Hyperbole 24. Soon o'er thy sheltered nest. Commented [KH8]: What does it seem that the waterfowl
Understatement is working toward? What is the speaker doing for the
25. Thou'rt gone, the abyss9 of heaven waterfowl in this stanza
Structure/Form is the external 26. Hath swallowed up thy form; yet, on my heart
appearance or structure of a poem 27. Deeply hath sunk the lesson thou hast given, Commented [KH10]: The poet clearly warns the reader
Line 28. And shall not soon depart. that a lesson is coming. Romantic poetry is usually more
Break subtle than that, although it does often find human, even
Stanza spiritual truths in natural events.
Fixed 29. He, who, from zone to zone,
30. Guides through the boundless sky thy certain flight, Commented [KH11]: He? Who? Why is no name given?
Free
Rhymed 31. In the long way that I must tread alone, Commented [KH12]: Waterfowl ordinarily travel in
Unrhymed 32. Will lead my steps aright. groups, or at least in pairs. Why is it important (and
Narrative meaningful) that this bird is alone? What does the phrase
must tread add here? What do you think the poet feels about
Lyric his own life? Is he finding comfort in this poem, or are their
Speaker of the poem is the voice that hints of shadows and conflict here?
relates the ideas or story of the poem.

Theme is central idea or message of a

work, the insight it offers into life.

1
Whiter-- To what place.
2
Fowler’s eye-- the person who shoots fowls
3
plashy-- marshy pool or puddle
4
marge-- margin
5
billows- large swells or waves of water
6
chafed- Rubbed away by friction, constant irritation
7
illimitable-- without limits or an end
8
weary-- feeling or showing tiredness, esp. as a result of excessive exertion or
lack of sleep
9
abyss--An unfathomable chasm; a yawning gulf.
2. An immeasurably profound depth or void.
3.a. The primeval chaos out of which it was believed that the earth and sky were
formed. b. The abode of evil spirits; hell."
Assignment: A PSALM 10OF LIFE by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1.Answer the questions to the right of
the poem. WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN
2. Identify ideas from the Romantic SAID TO THE PSALMIST11 Commented [KH13]: 1. What conflict is being addressed
time period here? Explain thoroughly.
3. how would the Puritans have TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
reacted to this piece? Life is but an empty dream ! —
4. How would the Deists react to this For the soul is dead that slumbers12,
piece? And things are not what they seem. Commented [KH14]: 2. What is life being compared to?
5. Identify ALL poetic devices-start What metaphor is Longfellow drawing between life and
with rhyme scheme that’s easy sleep. Explain thoroughly.
Life is real! Life is earnest13!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Word Bank Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Sound is the phonetic aspect of human
Was not spoken of the soul. Commented [KH15]: 3. What comparison is being
speech
discussed between life, the body, and the soul? Explain
Alliteration thoroughly.
Consonance Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Assonance Is our destined end or way ;
Onomatopoeia But to act, that each to-morrow
End Rhyme Find us farther than to-day. Commented [KH16]: 4. What does Longfellow state is
Rhyme Scheme humanities true goal in life? Explain thoroughly.
Internal Rhyme Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
Figurative Language is the use of And our hearts, though stout14 and brave,
words to mean something other than Still, like muffled drums, are beating
their literal meaning Funeral marches to the grave. Commented [KH17]: 5. What reminder of finite time does
Personification Longfellow allude to? Explain thoroughly.
Imagery In the world's broad field of battle,
Metaphor In the bivouac15 of Life,
Extended Metaphor Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Simile Be a hero in the strife16 ! Commented [KH18]: 6. What metaphor is Longfellow
Symbol building here? Explain thoroughly.
Allusion Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Hyperbole Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Understatement Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead17 ! Commented [KH19]: 7. How are these ideas different
Structure/Form is the external from the Puritan and Deist ideas? Explain thoroughly.
appearance or structure of a poem
Lives of great men all remind us
Line
We can make our lives sublime18,
Break
And, departing, leave behind us
Stanza
Footprints on the sands of time ; Commented [KH20]: 8. How is this stanza contradictory
Fixed
in regard to the previous one?
Free
Rhymed Footprints, that perhaps another,
Unrhymed Sailing o'er life's solemn19 main,
Narrative A forlorn 20and shipwrecked brother,
Lyric Seeing, shall take heart again. Commented [KH21]: 9. What is the duty of every human
Speaker of the poem is the voice that being according to this stanza? Explain thoroughly.
relates the ideas or story of the poem. Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Theme is central idea or message of a Still achieving, still pursuing,
work, the insight it offers into life. Learn to labor and to wait. Commented [KH22]: 10. Does this stanza restate the
entire theme of the poem or contradict it? Explain
thoroughly.

10
Psalm--a sacred song or hymn, in particular any of those contained in the
biblical Book of Psalms and used in Christian and Jewish worship
11
psalmist-the author or composer of a psalm
12
slumber--sleep
13
earnest--resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction
14
stout- (of an act, quality, or person) brave and determined
15
bivouac-- a temporary camp without tents or cover, used esp. by soldiers or
mountaineers.
16
Strife--angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict
17
overhead
18
sublime- of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration
or awe
19
solemn- formal and dignified
20
forlorn-- pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely, of an aim or endeavor) unlikely
to succeed or be fulfilled; hopeless
Assignment:
1.Answer the questions to the right of The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
the poem.
2. Identify ideas from the Romantic
time period The tide rises, the tide falls,
3. how would the Puritans have The twilight darkens, the curlew21 calls;
reacted to this piece? Along the sea-sands damp and brown
4. How would the Deists react to this The traveler hastens toward the town,
piece? And the tide rises, the tide falls.
5. Identify ALL poetic devices-start
with rhyme scheme that’s easy Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in the darkness calls;
Word Bank The little waves, with their soft, white hands,
Sound is the phonetic aspect of human Efface22 the footprints in the sands,
speech And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Alliteration
Consonance The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Assonance Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
Onomatopoeia The day returns, but nevermore
End Rhyme Returns the traveler to the shore,
Rhyme Scheme And the tide rises, the tide falls.
Internal Rhyme
Figurative Language is the use of 1. What imagery is present in this piece?
words to mean something other than 2. What might the traveler be a symbol for?
their literal meaning 3. The constant mention of the tide rising and falling serves what poetic
Personification purpose in the poem?
Imagery 4. How is the mood established in this poem?
Metaphor
Extended Metaphor
Simile
Symbol
Allusion
Hyperbole
Understatement

Structure/Form is the external

appearance or structure of a poem
Line
Break
Stanza
Fixed
Free
Rhymed
Unrhymed
Narrative
Lyric
Speaker of the poem is the voice that
relates the ideas or story of the poem.

Theme is central idea or message of a

work, the insight it offers into life.

21 curlew--Type of Bird
22 efface-- erase (a mark) from a surface