2010 8th Grade Poetry Test

The given phrase "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers" is an example of alliteration because it repeats the initial sound of the words in close proximity. The repetition of the "p" sound creates a rhythmic and musical quality to the phrase. Alliteration is a poetic device used to create emphasis, rhythm, and enhance the overall sound and beauty of the language.

The given poetic stanza is an example of a metaphor. The speaker uses various comparisons to convey their feelings and experiences. They compare their prime of youth to a frost of cares, their feast of joy to a dish of pain, their crop of corn to a field of weeds, and their good to vain hope of gain. These comparisons create vivid imagery and convey the speaker's sense of disillusionment and disappointment.

The correct answer is "The bacon began to hiss and sizzle." This is an example of onomatopoeia because the words "hiss" and "sizzle" imitate the sound that bacon makes when it is being cooked. Onomatopoeia is a poetic device where words are used to imitate or suggest the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. In this case, the words "hiss" and "sizzle" create a vivid sensory image and enhance the reader's experience by evoking the sound of cooking bacon.

The correct answer is personification because the poem attributes human qualities to the wind by saying it "stood up," "shouted," "whistled on his fingers," and "kicked the withered leaves about." Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics to non-human entities, and in this poem, the wind is portrayed as if it were a person.

The given stanza follows an "a-b-a-b" rhyme scheme, where the end words of the first and third lines rhyme with each other, and the end words of the second and fourth lines rhyme with each other. In this stanza, the end words "fate" and "hate" rhyme, as well as "above" and "love". This consistent pattern of rhyming creates a pleasing and rhythmic effect in the poem.

The given sentence, "The moon is a white frisbee floating over the mountain," is an example of a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unrelated things by stating that one thing is another. In this case, the moon is being compared to a white frisbee floating over the mountain. The sentence is not meant to be taken literally, but rather to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

Assonance refers to the repetition of vowel sounds within or at the end of lines of poetry. It is a technique used to create musicality and rhythm in a poem. This definition accurately describes the concept of assonance and distinguishes it from other poetic techniques such as rhyme or the structure of the poem.

The given lines compare the new electric fence to a steel-stringed banjo, using the word "as" to establish the comparison. This is an example of a simile, a poetic device that compares two unlike things using "like" or "as".

A couplet is a two-line form commonly used in sonnets. The given quote is from a sonnet and it follows the structure of a couplet, with two lines that rhyme and provide a concise and conclusive statement. Therefore, the correct answer is couplet.

The given poem describes the process of making whipped cream in vivid detail, using sensory language to create a mental image for the reader. The words "rich country cream," "stiff peaks," "flung," "dollops," and "blue oilcloth" all evoke visual and tactile imagery. The poem appeals to the reader's senses, allowing them to imagine the creamy texture, the act of whipping, and the final result of the dollops of whipped cream. Therefore, the poem is a good example of imagery.

The given lines use words that imitate the sound they represent, such as "buzzed," "bouncing," "clang," and "hiss." This creates a vivid auditory effect and helps the reader to imagine the sound of the timer falling off the counter. Therefore, the lines are an example of onomatopoeia, which is the use of words that sound like what they represent.

The sections of this poem are called stanzas. A stanza is a group of lines in a poem that are separated from other groups by a line break. In this poem, each section represents a separate stanza. The use of stanzas helps to organize the poem and create a rhythm or flow.

Meter in a verse of poetry refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, which creates a rhythmic structure. It helps to establish the rhythm and musicality of the poem. By emphasizing certain syllables and de-emphasizing others, meter adds a sense of flow and cadence to the poem. It is not about measuring the length of the whole poem, keeping track of it, or the similarity of sounds in the words.

The term "verse" in poetry refers to a line of traditional poetry written in meter. In poetry, a verse is a unit of writing that typically follows a specific rhythm or pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. It is a fundamental element of traditional poetry and helps to create the overall structure and musicality of a poem.

The correct answer is A, A, A. This means that the rhyme scheme of the poem is that each line ends with the same sound. In this case, all three lines end with the sound "irth" (birth, mirth, earth). This consistent rhyme scheme creates a sense of unity and repetition in the poem, emphasizing the angel's message to love without relying on anything on earth.

The given stanza from "Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now" by A. E. Housman demonstrates all of the listed literary techniques. It has a clear rhyme scheme with the end words of each line rhyming (now/bough/ride/tide). It also includes personification by attributing human qualities to the cherry tree, suggesting that it is "wearing white" for Easter. Additionally, there is consonance, as seen in the repetition of the "w" sound in "wearing white." Finally, there is assonance, as seen in the repetition of the long "o" sound in "loveliest," "of," "now," "bough," and "for."

The given lines of poetry use the poetic device of assonance, which is the repetition of vowel sounds in neighboring words. In this case, the words "goodly" and "forehead" both contain the long "o" sound, creating a harmonious and musical effect. This use of assonance enhances the imagery and beauty of the poet's description of the person's eyes and forehead.