Beach Burial Quizzes

Beach Burial Quiz

1 Where is the poem set?

On the shore of the Gulf of Arabs.

Germany.

Australia.

The Atlantic Ocean.
2 Which of the following is an example of simile?

Dead seamen, gone in search of the same landfall (Line 17)

As blue as drowned men’s lips (Line 16)

pluck them from the shallows and bury them in burrows (Line 7)

Enlisted on the other front. (Line 20)
3 What was Slessor's occupation from 1940-1944?

Sculptor

English professor

Official war correspondent for Australia

Army officer
4 Which of the following is an example of personification?

Written with such perplexity, with such bewildered pity (Line 11)

The words choke as they begin (Line 12)

Someone, it seems, has time for this (Line 6)

Dead seamen, gone in search of the same landfall (Line 17)
5 From which point of view is the poem told?

Third-person omniscient

First person

Third-person limited

Second person
6 "Enlisted on the other front" (Line 20) refers to ____.

The sailors' death and entrance into the afterlife.

The sailors' capture by the enemy.

The speaker's decision to desert the military after witnessing the death of the sailors.

The unknown stranger choosing to bury his enemies.
7 When was Kenneth Slessor born?

1916

1925

1901

1930
8 Which of the following lines contain direct rhyme?

Lines 6 and 7.

Lines 18 and 20.

Lines 2 and 4.

Lines 14 and 16.
9 "Between the sob and ____ of the gunfire."

sparks

shots

bang

clubbing
10 Which of the following elements of nature is NOT mentioned in the poem?

Soil

Ocean foam

Wood

Sand
11 What did an unknown person write on the makeshift graves?

Rest in Peace

Unknown seaman

God Bless the Army

Enemy troops lie here
12 Which is NOT a theme or motif of "Beach Burial?"

Loss and mourning

The triumph of good over evil

Religion

The futility of warfare
13 Which best describes the poem's tone?

Angry but hopeful

Confident and victorious

Bitter but righteous

Somber and mournful
14 What color was the inscription written in?

Red

Purple

Black

Orange
15 In line 11, "perplexity" means ___.

Anger

Sorrow

Confusion

Acceptance
16 Which of the following is an example of enjambment?

But morning rolls them in the foam. / Between the sob and clubbing of the gunfire (Lines 4-5)

The words choke as they begin – / ‘Unknown seaman’ (Lines 12-13)

Enlisted on the other front. (Line 20)

The breath of the wet season has washed their inscriptions / As blue as drowned men’s lips (Lines 15-16)
17 Which of the following is NOT personified in the poem?

The sand

The wet season

The ghostly pencil

The ocean
18 How many stanzas does the poem contain?

5

6

4

3
19 Who buried the sailors?

The speaker

"Someone"

Their fellow surviving sailors

The waves
20 Which of the following literary elements is NOT featured in this poem?

Hyperbole

Alliteration

Personification

Simile
21 "Beach Burial" appears in which of Slessor's collections?

Earth-Visitors

Thief of the Moon

One Hundred Poems, 1919-1939

Darlinghurst Nights
22 Which of the following is an example of alliteration?

Beach Burial (Title)

But morning rolls them in the foam (Line 4)

And tread the sand upon their nakedness (Line 8)

The words choke as they begin (Line 12)
23 In the context of the poem, what does "morning rolls them in the foam" mean? (Line 4)

In the morning light, the sailors are jumping from the ships onto the beach

The fighting has moved from the beach into the water

The tide is encroaching on the makeshift graves

The sailors' bodies are washing ashore in the morning
24 The sailors fought for which nation?

Britain

It is unclear from the poem

Australia

Egypt
25 Which type of stanza does the poem use?

Couplets

Quatrains

The stanza structure varies

Quintains

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Study Guide for Beach Burial

Beach Burial study guide contains a biography of Kenneth Slessor, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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