Winter Swans Quizzes

Winter Swans Quiz

1 What kind of verse is this poem written in?
Rhymed verse

Free verse

Blank Verse

Fake Verse
2 Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this poem?
After it rains, swans swim in lakes.

Swans are a type of bird that mate for life.

Nature is used metaphorically to express reconciliation between a couple.

Nature is used metaphorically to communicate that reconciliation is not possible.
3 What best describes the conflict in the poem?
A couple argue with each other.

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

A couple cannot be together because of long distance.

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

Nature

Nostalgia
5 What collection is "Winter Swans" published in?
Skirrid Hall

Skirrid Hill

The Blue Book

Mametz Wood
6 What is Owen Sheers' heritage?
American

Irish

Scottish

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."

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

"until the swans came and stopped us"
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.

All stanzas have the same number of lines.

The last stanza ends with 2 lines as opposed to 3, which suggests the theme of loss.
10 Which of the following literary elements does not appear in the poem?
Irony

Anaphora

Simile

Metaphor
11 Which of the following best describes the tone?
Excited and assertive

Hopeful and calm

Dry and regretful

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

"porcelain over stilling water" (Line 14)

"the waterlogged earth" (Line 4)

"like boats righting in rough weather" (Line 12)
13 What is special about the material of porcelain?
Porcelain appears to be fragile, but is actually strong.

Porcelain is a kind of ceramic.

Porcelain appears to be strong, but is actually fragile.

Plates can be made of porcelain.
14 How many stanzas does the poem have?
Seven, made of tercets

Seven, made of five tercets and two couplet

Six, made of tercets

Seven, made of six tercets and one couplet
15 What does it mean to "skirt?"
To go on top of something

To wear a skirt

To go through something rather than around it

To go around something rather than directly through or across it
16 What is the poem's setting?
Beside a lake during a two-day rainstorm

In the couple's house

Beside a lake in a break after a two-day rainstorm

Beside a river in a break after a two-day rainstorm
17 Why is the earth gulping for breath?
It is the result of the extreme cold of winter.

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 heavy rains, which symbolize the argument taking place during the poem.
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 Hill

Great Sloping Mountain

The Kingdom of Wales

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

Nature

Separation

Togetherness
21 When is enjambment used in the poem?
It is used throughout the poem.

It is used during the swan's movement and the ending image where the couple's hands come together.

The poem does not use enjambment.

It is used when describing the way the couple walks together.
22 What does it mean for the swans to "[halve] themselves?"
They dive their heads beneath the water.

They feel the loss of a breakup.

They are killed by hunters.

They are separated from each other.
23 Does the speaker reply when his or her partner remarks that the swans mate for life?
The speaker only looks at his or her partner.

The speaker does not reply at all.

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

Not in words; eventually the couple's hands find each other.
24 What does rain symbolize in the poem?
Nature's natural cycles

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the swans.

The unspecified conflict that had occurred between the couple.

The coming-together of the couple.
25 What best describes the ending image of the poem?
The couple's entwined hands resemble the swans swimming in the lake.

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 a pair of wings taking off in flight.

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