COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Think about the poems you have chosen and answer the questions below for each poem.
Your answers should be written in full sentences and should be placed on the page next to a copy of the poem they are about.
I have included an example under the questions on this page.
Your answers should be written in full sentences and should be placed on the page next to a copy of the poem they are about.
I have included an example under the questions on this page.
1. Who is the speaker in the poem? Is it the poet or a created persona?
2. What do you think is the theme, or broad idea, of the poem? Why?
3. Does the poem have a setting? If it does, what is it? Quote a line or words from the poem that shows us the setting.
4. Does the poem feature a character? If it does, who is it? Quote a line or words from the poem that shows us the character.
5. Make a list of three lines from the poem that feature verbs. Explain what is happening in each of these lines.
6. Describe some of the images shown in the poem.
7. What do you think the poem is about? What do you think the poet's attitude towards the topic is? Why?
2. What do you think is the theme, or broad idea, of the poem? Why?
3. Does the poem have a setting? If it does, what is it? Quote a line or words from the poem that shows us the setting.
4. Does the poem feature a character? If it does, who is it? Quote a line or words from the poem that shows us the character.
5. Make a list of three lines from the poem that feature verbs. Explain what is happening in each of these lines.
6. Describe some of the images shown in the poem.
7. What do you think the poem is about? What do you think the poet's attitude towards the topic is? Why?
EXAMPLE
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
Love After Love by Derek Walcott 1. The speaker in the poem is the poet, Derek Walcott. 2. There is a theme of self-discovery and love of self in the poem. The poet writes in a second person narrative voice, talking to 'you', suggesting that 'you' will 'greet yourself' and love 'the stranger who was yourself'. 3. The poet has set the poem at 'your' house. He mentions personal things from 'your' house, like 'your own door', 'your' mirror, and the love letters, photographs and 'desperate notes' on 'your' bookshelf. 4. The main character in this poem is 'you'. He shows us that 'you' could be a romantic person because there are love letters, photographs and 'desperate notes', maybe from a loved one. The main character might also be a loving person, shown to us by the repeated use of the word 'heart'. 5. Three lines that feature verbs include; "...you will greet yourself...": This shows that the poet thinks 'you' will welcome your arrival. "You will love again...": This shows the poet is guessing that because 'you' have loved yourself before, that you will love yourself once more..." "Take down the love letters...": This line shows the poet telling 'you' what to do with the love letters; he thinks they should be removed. 6. The images in this poem are warm and loving. The poet mentions smiling and links love with wine and bread. The poet also mentions love letters and books, showing the choice of things 'you' can read. The poet also mentions giving to yourself. 7. I think this poem is about a person who the poet thinks was in love with someone and now needs to love themselves. The poet says 'you' ignored 'yourself' for another, and that 'the time will come' when you pay attention to your own needs again. |
Love After Love
The time will come when, with elation you will greet yourself arriving at your own door, in your own mirror and each will smile at the other's welcome, and say, sit here. Eat. You will love again the stranger who was your self. Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself, to the stranger who has loved you all your life, whom you ignored for another, who knows you by heart. Take down the love letters from the bookshelf, the photographs, the desperate notes, peel your own image from the mirror. Sit. Feast on your life. Derek Walcott |