Winter Swans Quizzes

Winter Swans Quiz

1 What kind of verse is this poem written in?
Blank Verse

Fake Verse

Free verse

Rhymed verse
2 Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this poem?
Nature is used metaphorically to express reconciliation between a couple.

Swans are a type of bird that mate for life.

After it rains, swans swim in lakes.

Nature is used metaphorically to communicate that reconciliation is not possible.
3 What best describes the conflict in the poem?
A couple cannot be together because of long distance.

A couple argue with each other.

Seeing swans swim in a lake make a couple realize they cannot be together.

A couple are distant and uncommunicative after a fight or disagreement.
4 Which of the following is NOT an explicit theme of the work?
Reconciliation

Relational Tension

Nostalgia

Nature
5 What collection is "Winter Swans" published in?
Mametz Wood

Skirrid Hill

The Blue Book

Skirrid Hall
6 What is Owen Sheers' heritage?
American

Scottish

Irish

Welsh
7 How many lines does each stanza have?
Each has 2.

Each has 3.

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?
"I noticed our hands..."

"like a pair of wings settling after flight."

"until the swans came and stopped us"

"'They mate for life' you said as they left,"
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 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.

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.
10 Which of the following literary elements does not appear in the poem?
Anaphora

Simile

Metaphor

Irony
11 Which of the following best describes the tone?
Dry and regretful

Melancholy and loving

Hopeful and calm

Excited and assertive
12 Which of the following is a metaphor in the poem?
"The clouds had given their all-" (Line 1)

"like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12)

"porcelain over stilling water" (Line 14)

"the waterlogged earth" (Line 4)
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 strong, but is actually fragile.

Porcelain appears to be fragile, but is actually strong.
14 How many stanzas does the poem have?
Seven, made of six tercets and one couplet

Six, made of tercets

Seven, made of five tercets and two couplet

Seven, made of tercets
15 What does it mean to "skirt?"
To wear a skirt

To go through something rather than around it

To go around something rather than directly through or across it

To go on top of something
16 What is the poem's setting?
Beside a lake in a break after a two-day rainstorm

Beside a lake during a two-day rainstorm

Beside a river in a break after 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 argument taking place during the poem.

It is the result of the heavy rains, which symbolize the earlier argument between the couple.

It is the result of the amount of swans congregating by the lake.

It is the result of the extreme cold of winter.
18 Which is an example of consonance?
"like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12)

"icebergs of white feather" (Line 11)

"with a show of tipping in unison" (Line 8)

"the waterlogged earth" (Line 4)
19 What is the English translation of the Welsh "Ysgyryd (skirrid) fawr?"
Great Sloping Mountain

The Kingdom of Wales

Great Sloping Hill

Great Shattered Hill
20 What theme in Sheers's work, indicated by the title of the collection, appears in "Winter Swans"?
Separation

Nature

Swans

Togetherness
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.

It is used throughout the poem.

It is used when describing the way the couple walks together.

The poem does not use enjambment.
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 separated from each other.

They are killed by hunters.
23 Does the speaker reply when his or her partner remarks that the swans mate for life?
Not in words; eventually the couple's hands find each other.

The speaker only looks at his or her partner.

Not in words, the speaker hugs his or her partner.

The speaker does not reply at all.
24 What does rain symbolize in the poem?
The coming-together of the couple.

Nature's natural cycles

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the couple.

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the swans.
25 What best describes the ending image of the poem?
The couple's entwined hands resemble a pair of wings taking off in flight.

The couple's hands swing side by side like birds taking off in flight.

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.

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