Poetry Analysis Quiz. Poetry analysis is an important skill in English Literature, helping students understand the meaning, themes, and techniques used by poets. It involves examining figurative language, imagery, rhyme, rhythm, tone, and structure. This quiz is designed to test your knowledge of poetry and develop your ability to interpret and evaluate poems effectively. Score yourself over 20 at the end with answers and explanation that follows.
Poetry Analysis Quiz (20 Questions)
1. A poem that expresses personal emotions is called:
A. Narrative poem
B. Lyric poem
C. Epic
D. Ballad
2. The use of words to create mental pictures that appeal to the senses is called:
A. Imagery
B. Tone
C. Rhyme
D. Symbolism
3. A comparison using “like” or “as” in poetry is a:
A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Hyperbole
D. Alliteration
4. A figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-living things is:
A. Personification
B. Irony
C. Onomatopoeia
D. Pun
5. The attitude or feeling of the poet toward the subject is called:
A. Mood
B. Tone
C. Theme
D. Style
Poetry Analysis Quiz
6. The main idea or message of a poem is called:
A. Tone
B. Theme
C. Imagery
D. Symbolism
7. A poem with a story, often with characters and a plot, is called:
A. Lyric
B. Narrative
C. Sonnet
D. Ode
8. Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words is called:
A. Consonance
B. Alliteration
C. Assonance
D. Rhyme
9. Repetition of vowel sounds in words is called:
A. Assonance
B. Consonance
C. Alliteration
D. Onomatopoeia
10. Words that imitate natural sounds are called:
A. Simile
B. Onomatopoeia
C. Metaphor
D. Personification
Poetry Analysis Quiz
11. A poem of 14 lines, often about love, is called:
A. Ode
B. Ballad
C. Sonnet
D. Epic
12. A symbol in poetry is:
A. A word with a literal meaning only
B. An object or action representing something beyond itself
C. A rhyme
D. A stanza
13. A figure of speech involving exaggeration is called:
A. Hyperbole
B. Irony
C. Metaphor
D. Simile
14. A poem praising a person, thing, or idea is called:
A. Lyric
B. Ode
C. Sonnet
D. Ballad
15. The arrangement of words and lines in a poem is called:
A. Structure
B. Tone
C. Theme
D. Imagery
Poetry Analysis Quiz
16. A poem that tells a legend or heroic story is called:
A. Lyric
B. Epic
C. Ode
D. Sonnet
17. The overall feeling or atmosphere created by a poem is called:
A. Tone
B. Mood
C. Theme
D. Imagery
18. Using one thing to represent another, often an abstract idea, is called:
A. Symbolism
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Hyperbole
19. The choice and arrangement of words in a poem is called:
A. Diction
B. Syntax
C. Imagery
D. Rhyme
20. A short narrative poem often set to music is called:
A. Ballad
B. Lyric
C. Epic
D. Ode
Answers and Explanations
1. B – Lyric poem
Lyric poems express personal emotions and thoughts. They focus on the poet’s feelings rather than telling a story.
2. A – Imagery
Imagery uses descriptive language to create mental pictures appealing to the senses, enhancing the reader’s experience.
3. B – Simile
Similes compare two unlike things using “like” or “as” to create vivid descriptions. Example: “Her smile was like sunshine.”
4. A – Personification
Personification gives human qualities to non-living objects. Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”
5. B – Tone
Tone is the poet’s attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice, style, and mood.
6. B – Theme
The theme is the main idea or message of the poem. It reflects the poet’s purpose and the underlying meaning.
7. B – Narrative
Narrative poems tell a story with characters and events. Example: “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.
8. B – Alliteration
Alliteration repeats consonant sounds at the beginning of words to create rhythm and musicality.
9. A – Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, adding melody to the poem.
10. B – Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia imitates natural sounds. Example: “buzz,” “bang,” “sizzle,” making the poem more vivid.
11. C – Sonnet
A sonnet is a 14-line poem, often about love, following a specific rhyme scheme.
12. B – Symbol
A symbol is an object, action, or word representing a deeper meaning, often abstract or universal.
13. A – Hyperbole
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Example: “I’ve told you a million times.”
14. B – Ode
An ode is a poem of praise dedicated to a person, idea, or object, often serious in tone.
15. A – Structure
Structure is the organization of lines, stanzas, and rhythm in a poem, influencing its flow and impact.
16. B – Epic
An epic is a long narrative poem about heroes, legends, or important historical events.
17. B – Mood
Mood is the overall feeling or atmosphere experienced by the reader, shaped by tone, imagery, and language.
18. A – Symbolism
Symbolism is the use of objects or actions to represent abstract ideas or concepts beyond their literal meaning.
19. A – Diction
Diction refers to the choice and style of words in a poem, affecting tone, clarity, and expression.
20. A – Ballad
A ballad is a short narrative poem, often set to music, telling a story in a simple, direct style.
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