To a Mouse Quizzes

To a Mouse Quiz

1 To which historical event does this poem implicitly respond?
The industrial revolution

The French revolution

The Irish potato famine

The American civil war
2 Burns metaphorically compares the components of the mouse's nest to which of the following?
Stones

Furniture

Bones

Walls
3 Which dialect of English does this poem's speaker use?
Irish English

Scottish English

Australian English

Indian English
4 Which best summarizes the sentence "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men/Gang aft agley"?
Humans and animals will forever be at war

It's impossible for anybody to perfectly plan out their life

Having a map is necessary when you're out in the wilderness

It's important to learn from ways of beings different from your own
5 What is the difference in length between this poem's long and short lines?
The long lines are written in pentameter, the short ones in monometer

The long lines are written in dimeter, the short ones in monometer

The long lines are written in octameter, the short ones in tetrameter

The long lines are written in tetrameter, the short ones in dimeter
6 What is the meaning of the word "cranreuch"?
A rural code of conduct

A type of mist

A Scottish cookie

A bag used by farmers
7 What is the meaning of the word "daimen"?
Demonic

Occasional

Underground

Cute
8 What is the speaker's attitude towards the mouse?
Gruff admiration

A blend of pity and envy

Friendly but uninquisitive tolerance

Uncontrollable fury
9 Which line of the poem contains onomatopoeia?
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!

Thou need na start awa sae hasty,

Till crash! the cruel coulter past
10 How many lines are in a Burns stanza?
Eight

Four

Six

Three
11 What does the mouse symbolize?
The value of hard work

Miserable subsistence

The innocence of the natural world

Theft and dishonesty
12 What sounds in the phrase "broken nature's social union" produce assonance?
E

N

O

K
13 What is the definition of the word "icker"?
A small child

An ear of corn

A mouse nest

A late fall harvest
14 At what time of year does this poem take place?
Early summer

Late fall

Christmas

Midsummer
15 What type of poetic foot makes up most of this poem?
Trochees

Iambs

Dactyls

Spondees
16 Define the word "laith"
Unwilling

Tired

An old-fashioned washing machien

Stream
17 What is this poem's rhyme scheme?
AABABAB

AAABAB

ABCA

ABABABAB
18 Why does the speaker express a longing to be like the mouse?
The mouse has a family, while the speaker is alone

The mouse doesn't have the emotional burden of thinking about the past or the future

The mouse doesn't have to work and lives off of theft

The speaker is slow and tired, while the mouse is quick and nimble
19 What is the definition of the word "sleeket"?
Sharp

Sleek

Damp

A small mammal
20 What element of a poem is NOT typically dictated by the guidelines of a Burns stanza?
Number of feet in a line

Rhyme scheme

Number of lines per stanza

Number of stanzas
21 Why is the speaker unconcerned about the mouse stealing food?
He is too depressed to eat

He has so much that he won't notice the theft

He is old and will die before running out of food

He believes that the life of a mouse is worth more than the life of a human
22 Who is the speaker of this poem?
A mouse

A small child

A farmer

A cat
23 How does the speaker destroy the mouse's nest?
By running a plow into it

By letting his dog dig it up

By stepping on it

By using it as timber
24 What is the definition of the word "brattle"?
Rattle

Spoiled

A type of plough

Constraint
25 How many stanzas make up this poem?
Five

Eight

Ten

Three

Study Guide for To a Mouse

To a Mouse study guide contains a biography of Robert Burns, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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To a Mouse

by Robert Burns

To a Mouse Quiz

To a Mouse Questions and Answers

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