Collections Grade 7 Guiding Questions
Collection 2
“The Song of Wandering Aengus” by W. B. Yeats (pg.72)
Read the poem “The Song of Wandering Aengus” by W. B. Yeats . Then, reread the lines indicated with each question below. Answer each question, citing text evidence.
I went out to the hazel wood, Line 1-8 Summary:
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor Line 9-16 Summary:
I went to blow the fire a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering Line 17-24 Summary:
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.
1. What is Aengus’ quest (goal) in this poem?
2. Lines 17–24: What does the poet mean by the metaphors “silver apples of the moon” and “golden apples of the sun”? Explain the meaning of lines 17–24.
3. Where is the major shift in this poem? Draw a line where it occurs.
Why does the author shift ideas here? Explain.
“Sonnet 43” by William Shakespeare (pg.74)
Now read the poem “Sonnet 43” by William Shakespeare.
*Sonnets have 14 lines, develops the idea through 3 parts, and end with a couplet (2 lines)
When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, Modern English Notes:
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright are bright in dark directed;
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so?
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay?
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
4. Circle the words in the sonnet that have a negative connotation.
What do these words show us about the author’s attitude toward finding his love?
5. Lines 13–14: What examples of paradox are in these lines? How do they deepen the poem’s meaning? (A paradox is a statement that seems to contradict itself)
6. Read the final couplet. Restate its message in your own words.
7. Each of these two poems is, in a sense, a love poem. How are they similar?