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