Sound Pattern-Related Questions and Answers

QUESTION-BASED ON SOUND BASED STYLISTIC DEVICES.

1.Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.

The Freedom of the Moon by Robert Frost

I’ve tried the new moon tilted in the air

Above a hazy tree-and -farmhouse cluster

As you might try a jewel in your hair.

I’ve tried it fine with little breath of luster,

Alone, or in one ornament combining 

With one first -water star almost as shining.

I put it shining anywhere I please.

By walking slowly on some evening later

I’ve pulled it from a create of crooked trees

And brought it over glossy water, greater,

And dropped it in, and seen the image wallow,

The colour run, all sorts of wonder follow.

Questions

a) Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem. 2 Marks

b) Identify all the rhyming words in the poem. 5Marks

c)How is rhythm achieved in the above poem? 4 Marks

d)Who is the speaker in the above poem? Illustrate your answer. 2 Marks

2. Identify all the mnemonic devices explained in the article. 6 marks

3.Give another name which mean the same as mnemonic devices. 1 mark

4.Identify two types of rhyming scheme discussed in the article. 2 marks

5.From the statements given below state which sound pattern each is referring to. 5 Marks

a) Refers to the matching of final sounds in two or more words.

b) Refers to the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are in the same line.

c) It refers to repetition of similar sounding consonant sounds either at the middle or end of words that are in the same line.

d) It refers to English words that imitates/copies the sound they suggest.

e) It refers to the actual sounds as they are produced.

6.Identify the two types of rhyme discussed in the article. 2 Marks

7.What is the importance of sound based stylistic devices when employed in the poem. 5 Marks

8.Read the poem below and answer the questions that follows.

   America by Claude McKay

Although she feeds me bread of bitterness,

And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth,

Stealing my breath of life, I will confess

I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!

Her vigour flows like tides into my blood,

Giving me strength erect against her hate.

Her bigness sweeps my being like a flood.

Yes, as a rebel fronts a king in state,

I stand within her walls with not a shred

Of terror, malice, note a word of jeer

Darkly I gaze into the days ahead,

And see her might and granite wonders there,

Beneath the touch of Times unerring hand,

Like priceless treasures sinking in the sand.

Question

a) Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem.2 marks

b) Why does the poet spell the word Times with capital ‘T’ and what does he achieve by all this? 4 Marks

c)Give two examples for each of the following sound patterns in the poem. 4 Marks

i) Assonance

ii) Alliteration

d)How would you say the last two lines in this poem.2 Marks

9.Read the poem below and attempt the questions correctly.

 Richard Cory by Edwin Arliston

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We the people on the pavement looked at him;

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favoured and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

‘Good Morning’, and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich -yes, richer than a king,

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish we were in his place.

So, on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

Questions.

Explain two pairs of words rhyme in stanza one? 2 marks

Who is the persona in the above poem? Illustrate your answer.2 Marks

Explain two ways in which rhythm has been achieved in this poem.4 Marks

Which word would stress in line 1 of the last stanza? 2 marks

How would you say the last line of the poem?

Read on introduction to poetry here.

Answers to the Questions above.

1.a) ababcc, dedeff regular because it is predictable.

   b) air/hair     cluster/luster    combining/shining   Please/trees    later/greater

      wallow/follow

   c) It is achieved through:

      use of rhyme in the poem e.g wallow/follow

      use of alliteration e.g stanza 1 line 6, ‘…with…water….’

      Use of assonance e.g stanza 2 last line,e’.colour…sorts…wonder…follow.’

  d)The persona is an observer, who walks in the night observing the moon. Stanza two line 2.

2. Rhyme

   Alliteration

   Assonance

   Consonance

   Ideophone

   Onomatopoeia

3.Sound patterns/Sound Based stylistic devices

4. Regular rhyme scheme

    Irregular rhyme scheme

5.a) Rhyme

   b) Alliteration

  c)Consonance

  d) Onomatopoeia

  e) Ideophone.

6. Internal rhyme

Approximate rhyme

7.Creates mood in a poem

   Enhances rhythm

   Enhances musicality

   Reinforces the meaning in the poem

   Enhances memorability.

8.a) ababcdcdefefgg   it is regular since it is systematic or predictable.

   b) It is used to imply it is a proper noun. When a poet gives it a human character trait of having a hand, the poet is able to turn an abstract noun into concrete noun. In so doing, the powerful nature of time is brought out.

  c)Assonance e.g   …hell…tests,   like…tide

    Alliteration e.g   bread … bitterness,  tiger …tooth

d) I would use appropriate gestures for example, all fingers pointing down to bring out the idea of, ‘sinking in the sand.’

9.a) town/crown                him/slim

   b) The persona is an observer, street family who observes Richard Cory movements from the pavement.

   c) Through: 

     Repetition e.g  ‘And he always..’

     Alliteration    e.g ‘when…walked, wish …we… were

   d) Worked, waited. Because they are content words that carry meaning.

   e) I would say it with a falling intonation, and a sad voice to express sorrow at the death of  Richard Cory.

  Wondering what to include in an inventory,learn here.