Winter Swans Quizzes

Winter Swans Quiz

1 What kind of verse is this poem written in?

Free verse

Blank Verse

Rhymed verse

Fake Verse
2 Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this poem?

Nature is used metaphorically to communicate that reconciliation is not possible.

Nature is used metaphorically to express reconciliation between a couple.

Swans are a type of bird that mate for life.

After it rains, swans swim in lakes.
3 What best describes the conflict in the poem?

A couple argue with each other.

A couple cannot be together because of long distance.

A couple are distant and uncommunicative after a fight or disagreement.

Seeing swans swim in a lake make a couple realize they cannot be together.
4 Which of the following is NOT an explicit theme of the work?

Nostalgia

Reconciliation

Relational Tension

Nature
5 What collection is "Winter Swans" published in?

The Blue Book

Skirrid Hall

Mametz Wood

Skirrid Hill
6 What is Owen Sheers' heritage?

Scottish

Welsh

Irish

American
7 How many lines does each stanza have?

Each has 3.

Each has 3 except for the last, which has 2.

Each has 2 except for the last, which has 3.

Each has 2.
8 Which line best symbolizes reconciliation between the couple?

"I noticed our hands..."

"'They mate for life' you said as they left,"

"until the swans came and stopped us"

"like a pair of wings settling after flight."
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

Irony

Simile
11 Which of the following best describes the tone?

Dry and regretful

Melancholy and loving

Excited and assertive

Hopeful and calm
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 clouds had given their all-" (Line 1)

"the waterlogged earth" (Line 4)
13 What is special about the material of porcelain?

Porcelain is a kind of ceramic.

Porcelain appears to be fragile, but is actually strong.

Porcelain appears to be strong, but is actually fragile.

Plates can be made of porcelain.
14 How many stanzas does the poem have?

Seven, made of five tercets and two couplet

Seven, made of six tercets and one couplet

Six, made of tercets

Seven, made of tercets
15 What does it mean to "skirt?"

To go through something rather than around it

To go on top of something

To go around something rather than directly through or across it

To wear a skirt
16 What is the poem's setting?

Beside a lake in a break after a two-day rainstorm

Beside a river in a break after a two-day rainstorm

Beside a lake during a two-day rainstorm

In the couple's house
17 Why is the earth gulping for breath?

It is the result of the extreme cold of winter.

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.
18 Which is an example of consonance?

"icebergs of white feather" (Line 11)

"the waterlogged earth" (Line 4)

"with a show of tipping in unison" (Line 8)

"like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12)
19 What is the English translation of the Welsh "Ysgyryd (skirrid) fawr?"

Great Shattered Hill

The Kingdom of Wales

Great Sloping Mountain

Great Sloping Hill
20 What theme in Sheers's work, indicated by the title of the collection, appears in "Winter Swans"?

Swans

Nature

Separation

Togetherness
21 When is enjambment used in the poem?

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.

It is used when describing the way the couple walks together.

The poem does not use enjambment.
22 What does it mean for the swans to "[halve] themselves?"

They are separated from each other.

They dive their heads beneath the water.

They feel the loss of a breakup.

They are killed by hunters.
23 Does the speaker reply when his or her partner remarks that the swans mate for life?

Not in words; eventually the couple's hands find each other.

The speaker only looks at his or her partner.

The speaker does not reply at all.

Not in words, the speaker hugs his or her partner.
24 What does rain symbolize in the poem?

The coming-together of the couple.

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the swans.

Nature's natural cycles

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the couple.
25 What best describes the ending image of the poem?

The couple's entwined hands resemble the swans swimming in the lake.

The couple's entwined hands resemble a pair of wings taking off in flight.

The couple's hands swing side by side like birds taking off in flight.

The couple's entwined hands resemble a pair of wings settling after flight.

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