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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 7 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are "copses" (line 14)?

2. What does the speaker mean when he says he was "'mid the din/ Of towns and cities" (lines 26-27)?

3. What paradox does the speaker introduce at the end of the second verse paragraph?

4. What modern description might we give of the state that the speaker describes toward the end of the second verse paragraph?

5. Which of the following describes the term "pastoral farms" (line 16)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the speaker mean in line 47 when he talks about becoming "a living soul"?

2. Describe the landscape that the speaker sees.

3. Where has the speaker been for the past five years, and how has the memory of this landscape impacted him?

4. What are two possibilities that the speaker imagines as the origin of the smoke he sees?

5. What does the speaker say about the hedge-rows, and what does this reveal about his perspective on the scene?

6. What literal and philosophical impact do the cliffs have on the landscape the speaker is viewing?

7. What two elements does the first stanza mention that contribute to the sense that the scene is unbroken and whole?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the purpose of the prosody of "Tintern Abbey." Describe the poem's prosody and how it strikes a balance between traditional meter and natural speech. Consider the poem's occasion, tone, and subject matter as you explain the need to balance elevation and informality. Finally, connect the poem's prosody with one or more thematic ideas expressed in "Tintern Abbey." Support your observations with both quoted and paraphrased evidence from the poem.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that analyzes how "Tintern Abbey" uses diction, details, and symbolism to support the idea that the speaker's relationship with nature has changed over time. Begin by establishing the three stages of the speaker's relationship with nature. Then, use both quoted and paraphrased evidence from the poem to show how Wordsworth employs diction, details, and symbolism to convey these three stages.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about Wordsworth's use of musical devices in "Tintern Abbey." Take a position about the purpose of these devices and use both quoted and paraphrased evidence from throughout the poem to support your assertions. Consider how at least three of these devices impact the poem's tone and meaning.

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