GCSE Analysing Unseen Poetry 2

Question 1

A poet uses the phrase 'the moon wept silver tears.' What technique is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Personification

Answer

Personification gives the moon a human quality (weeping), attributing emotion to a non-human subject.

Question 2

When analysing the tone of an unseen poem, which of the following best defines 'tone'?

Accepted Answer

The attitude of the speaker or poet toward the subject

Answer

Tone refers to the speaker's or poet's attitude toward the subject matter, which can be melancholic, celebratory, bitter, etc.

Question 3

A poem's final stanza shifts from despair to hope. What should a GCSE student focus on to explain this shift?

Accepted Answer

Changes in language, imagery, and structure that signal the turn

Answer

Identifying shifts requires examining how language, imagery, and structure change to create a new emotional or thematic direction.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes a 'volta' in a poem?

Accepted Answer

A turning point where the poem's argument or emotion changes

Answer

A volta is a significant turn or shift in thought, emotion, or argument, often found between the octave and sestet in a sonnet.

Question 5

A poet writes: 'He was a lion in battle, a lamb at home.' What technique is used here?

Accepted Answer

Metaphor

Answer

These are metaphors comparing the man to a lion and a lamb to highlight contrasting aspects of his character.

GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education Practice Test