7.2–Reading Questions Poetry

Directions: Please answer the following questions, making sure to answer all the questions and that your responses are thorough, thoughtful, text-based, and clear.  All responses should include both your own explanation and direct references to the text. A detailed rubric is available in this book’s “Rubrics” unit.

How to Submit: You’ll need to create a PDF document that you can submit to the relevant dropbox on Blackboard (look for dropbox titled “Reading Questions Poetry”). Suggested submission procedure: copy and paste the below information into a Word document, responding to the questions, then saving as a PDF.

Grading: 25 points, maximum, for completed document.

On “Bluebird”

What do you think the bluebird symbolizes in the poem? How does Bukowski use the bluebird as a metaphor for deeper aspects of his personality or emotional state?

How would you describe the tone and mood of the poem? How does Bukowski’s choice of words contribute to the overall feel of the poem?

On “Diving into the Wreck”

What do you think the wreck symbolizes in the poem? How does this symbol relate to the themes of personal or collective history?

How does Rich use imagery to convey the underwater scene and the exploration of the wreck? Which images stand out to you, and why?

What transformations occur in the poem, either to the speaker or in the interpretation of the wreck itself? How does this transformation contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

On “Pied Beauty”

How does Hopkins celebrate the diversity of nature in “Pied Beauty”? Can you identify specific examples from the poem that illustrate this celebration?

How does Hopkins’ choice of language, including his use of compound words and alliteration, affect the poem’s sound and meaning?

On “Tulips”

What role do the tulips play in the speaker’s emotional landscape?

What is the significance of the color red in the poem? How does Plath use color to enhance the poem’s emotional impact?

How does Plath use water imagery in the poem? What might the water imagery suggest about the speaker’s state of mind? What does the imagery of water suggest about the speaker’s state of mind?

On “A Litany for Survival”

How does the structure of the poem (repetition, enjambment, etc.) contribute to its emotional impact? How about the title—what effect might be created when Lorde titles this piece a “litany”?

What imagery does Lorde use to depict the experience of marginalized individuals?

What is the significance of shifting from “they” to “we” throughout the poem? How might that collective “we” affect the reader’s experience of the poem?

On “Digging”

In what ways does “Digging” explore the relationship between the poet and his ancestors? How does Heaney view his own role in comparison to that of his father and grandfather?

Analyze the use of similes and metaphors in the poem (and its title). How do they enhance the reader’s understanding of the poet’s perspective?