1. Interpreting Poetry
Day 18

2. Today’s Determine types of questions asked about poems
Goals:
Focus Questions
Determine types of questions asked about poems
Identify techniques to solving multiple choice questions about poems
Create MC questions about poems
What strategies can we use to understand poetry?

3. Taking Multiple-Choice Tests
Multiple choice? Multiple guess? Multiple anxiety?
Right after taking a test or exam, students often bemoan the difficulties and uncertainties.
“It’s unfair.” “It’s crazy.” “Was that in English?” “Did you get four Ds in a row for the second poem?” “I just closed my eyes and pointed.”
Is it really possible to avoid these and other woes?

4. Taking Multiple-Choice Tests
Are multiple-choice questions fair? What are some of the reasons people think they are not fair?
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5. What is it about the multiple-choice questions that causes such anxiety?
Basically, a multiple­ choice literature question is a flawed method of gauging understanding because, by its very nature, it forces you to play a cat ­and­ mouse game with the test maker who demands that you concentrate on items that are incorrect before you can choose what is correct.
We know, however, that complex literature has a richness that allows for ambiguity (grey areas), such as poetry.
When you are taking the exam, you are expected to match someone else’s take on a work with the answers you choose.
This is what often causes youto feel that the multiple ­choice is unfair.
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6. What is it about the multiple-choice questions that causes such anxiety?
I was hiding under your porch because Multiple Choice questions are scary…
And maybe, to a degree, it is unfair.
However, tests is designed to allow you to shine, not to be humiliated.
To that end, you will not find “cutesy” questions, and the test writers will not play games with you.
What they will do is to present several valid options as a response to a challenging and appropriate question.
These questions are designed to separate the perceptive and thoughtful reader from the superficial and impulsive one.
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7. Types of Multiple-Choice Questions about poetry
dramatic situation (Speaker)
Structure
Theme
meaning of words
Images and figurative language
Diction
Tone, literary devices, and metrics
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8. Dramatic situation
Dramatic situation is asking about the Speaker/Subject (The S in TSP-FASTT)
These types of questions do appear on the test, and can be difficult.
Examples – Who is speaking? Where is she? To whom is the poem addressed? Who is the speaker in lines 5-8? Where does the poem take place? At what time of the year does the poem take place?
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9. Structure
These types of questions are the F in TSP-FASTT (Figurative Language and FORM)
These questions will be multi-layered
They will ask about how structure creates meaning, which means you must understand structure and understand meaning.
Examples – How are stanzas 1 and 2 related to stanza 3? What word in line 20 refers back to an idea used in lines 5, 10, and 15? Which of the following divisions best represents its structure?
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10. Theme These ones you will see a lot! (At least for every passage)
It is the last T in TSP-FASTT.
Sometimes they will ask about the overall theme, and sometimes just from specific stanzas.
Examples – Which of the following best sums up the meaning of stanza 2? With which of the following is the poem centrally concerned? The poet rejects the notion of an intelligent universe because. . .
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11. Meaning of words
This can be tricky for some students as it falls under the P of TSP-FASTT (Paraphrase)
These questions will come up, and mostly ask you to define the meaning or replace a word with another suitable word.
Examples - Which of the following best defines the word “glass” as it is used in line 9? To which of the following does the word “which” in line 7 refer? The verb “had done” may best be paraphrased as. .
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12. Images and Figurative Language
The F in TSP-FASTT (Figurative Language and Form)
You should expect a large number of these questions. B
because the poems used on the exams must be complex enough to inspire ten to fifteen good multiple-choice questions, it is rare that a poem which does not rely on complex figurative language is chosen.
Examples – To which of the following does the poet compare his love? The images in lines 3 and 8 come from what area of science? The figure of the rope used in line 7 is used later in the poem in line. . Which of the following literary techniques is illustrated by the phrase “murmurous hum and buzz of the hive”? The meter of the last line in each stanza. . .
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13. Diction
Diction is word choice, and is best identified through the P and F stages of TSP-FASTT
By looking at word choice, the questions usually want the reader to dig into meaning and the big “WHY” is the author doing this type questions.
Examples – Which of the following words is used to suggest the poet’s dislike of winter? The poet’s use of the word “air” in line 8 is to indicate The poet’s delight in the garden is suggested by all of the following words EXCEPT. . .
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14. Hey… We ain’t squirrels… we’re chipmunks!
Tone
The A in TSP-FASTT (Author’s Attitude)
These kinds of questions can be tricky if you don’t know the meaning of the words in the answer choices.
Sometimes they’ll ask for the over all tone, and sometimes the tone in one stanza.
Sometimes they will give you the tone and you have to choice which lines best represent that tone.
Examples – The tone of the stanza can best be described as… Which line best represents the sarcastic tone of the speaker . . .
Hey… We ain’t squirrels… we’re chipmunks!
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15. Tips for tackling MC
Read the entire sample, do not skim or read the questions first. This prevents you from making mistakes due to misunderstanding underlying themes. Read at a reasonable pace, as you are being timed.
Analyze the passage for tone, purpose and use of literary devices. These are common questions for the AP English Literature Exam and can be overlooked, easily.
Read questions carefully prior to answering. Be sure to read instructions as well as the answers to ensure you understand what is being asked.
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16. Tips for tackling MC
Reread lines which are directly referenced in questions, e.g. line 7 in question 2 of our example. Before selecting your answer, reread the correlated line to confirm your choice.
Wisely divide your time to read each passage and provide your answers. Remember you have 60 minutes to complete a 55 question exam. If you’re stuck, and completely unsure, move on. Mark these sections so you can return once you’ve answered everything you’re confident of. If you are still wary, eliminate all the answers you can and guess from the remaining choices.
Notes along the page margins can be extremely helpful. As you read the text note context, tone, literary devices and any special points. Quickly jot these in the margin as you read. This will help you answer the questions quickly and efficiently.

17. Today’s Tasks: Independently: Read the poem and the MC questions .
Independently: Identify each type of question (what is the question asking about)
Independently: Select the best answer choice.
In table groups: For the 2nd poem, create 7 multiple choice questions
In table groups: Ensure that there is one question for each of the different types of poems.
In table groups: Switch your poem and questions with another table group. Answer the other group’s questions to the best of your ability.
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