1 What kind of verse is this poem written in? Blank Verse Rhymed verse Free verse Fake Verse 2 Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this poem? After it rains, swans swim in lakes. Swans are a type of bird that mate for life. Nature is used metaphorically to communicate that reconciliation is not possible. Nature is used metaphorically to express reconciliation between a couple. 3 What best describes the conflict in the poem? A couple argue with each other. Seeing swans swim in a lake make a couple realize they cannot be together. A couple are distant and uncommunicative after a fight or disagreement. A couple cannot be together because of long distance. 4 Which of the following is NOT an explicit theme of the work? Relational Tension Reconciliation Nature Nostalgia 5 What collection is "Winter Swans" published in? Skirrid Hill Skirrid Hall The Blue Book Mametz Wood 6 What is Owen Sheers' heritage? Scottish Irish American Welsh 7 How many lines does each stanza have? Each has 3 except for the last, which has 2. Each has 3. Each has 2 except for the last, which has 3. Each has 2. 8 Which line best symbolizes reconciliation between the couple? "until the swans came and stopped us" "'They mate for life' you said as they left," "like a pair of wings settling after flight." "I noticed our hands..." 9 Which best describes the significance of the change in number of lines per stanza? The last stanza ends with 3 lines as opposed to 2, which numerically suggests an addition to the couple's family. All stanzas have the same number of lines. The last stanza ends with 2 lines as opposed to 3, which suggests the theme of loss. The last stanza ends with 2 lines as opposed to 3, which numerically settles upon a pair. 10 Which of the following literary elements does not appear in the poem? Metaphor Anaphora Simile Irony 11 Which of the following best describes the tone? Melancholy and loving Excited and assertive Hopeful and calm Dry and regretful 12 Which of the following is a metaphor in the poem? "like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12) "porcelain over stilling water" (Line 14) "the waterlogged earth" (Line 4) "The clouds had given their all-" (Line 1) 13 What is special about the material of porcelain? Plates can be made of porcelain. Porcelain appears to be fragile, but is actually strong. Porcelain appears to be strong, but is actually fragile. Porcelain is a kind of ceramic. 14 How many stanzas does the poem have? Seven, made of tercets Seven, made of five tercets and two couplet Six, made of tercets Seven, made of six tercets and one couplet 15 What does it mean to "skirt?" To wear a skirt To go around something rather than directly through or across it To go on top of something To go through something rather than around it 16 What is the poem's setting? Beside a lake during a two-day rainstorm Beside a lake in a break after a two-day rainstorm In the couple's house Beside a river in a break after a two-day rainstorm 17 Why is the earth gulping for breath? It is the result of the amount of swans congregating by the lake. It is the result of the heavy rains, which symbolize the argument taking place during the poem. It is the result of the heavy rains, which symbolize the earlier argument between the couple. It is the result of the extreme cold of winter. 18 Which is an example of consonance? "the waterlogged earth" (Line 4) "like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12) "icebergs of white feather" (Line 11) "with a show of tipping in unison" (Line 8) 19 What is the English translation of the Welsh "Ysgyryd (skirrid) fawr?" The Kingdom of Wales Great Sloping Hill Great Shattered Hill Great Sloping Mountain 20 What theme in Sheers's work, indicated by the title of the collection, appears in "Winter Swans"? Nature Separation Togetherness Swans 21 When is enjambment used in the poem? The poem does not use enjambment. It is used when describing the way the couple walks together. It is used during the swan's movement and the ending image where the couple's hands come together. It is used throughout the poem. 22 What does it mean for the swans to "[halve] themselves?" They are separated from each other. They are killed by hunters. They dive their heads beneath the water. They feel the loss of a breakup. 23 Does the speaker reply when his or her partner remarks that the swans mate for life? The speaker does not reply at all. Not in words, the speaker hugs his or her partner. Not in words; eventually the couple's hands find each other. The speaker only looks at his or her partner. 24 What does rain symbolize in the poem? The coming-together of the couple. Nature's natural cycles The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the couple. The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the swans. 25 What best describes the ending image of the poem? The couple's hands swing side by side like birds taking off in flight. The couple's entwined hands resemble a pair of wings taking off in flight. The couple's entwined hands resemble a pair of wings settling after flight. The couple's entwined hands resemble the swans swimming in the lake.