The Frog PoolFormative Assessment

Purpose of this FA

Revise the key learning points on Sound in Poetry

Gaining more familiarity with the sort of textual analysis that is expected in Literature, and how to express the analysis clearly in

writing.

1. What is the rhyme scheme in the first stanza?

 aabbcc

The first stanza has 6 lines. Looking at the last word of each line, we

see that the last word of the first line rhymes with the last word of the second line [aa], the last word of the third line rhymes with the last word of the fourth line [bb], and the last word of the fifth line rhymes with the last word of the sixth line [cc].

2. Copy the first line of the poem and

mark the meter (rhythm pattern).

/ = Stressed syllable

x = Unstressed syllable

Rhythm pattern every syllable has to be marked with a symbol

The symbol is placed on top of the first vowel of the syllable.

3. Comment on the use of alliteration in the first stanza.

For such a question, you need to

1. Identify instances of alliteration

2. Comment on the purpose/effect of the alliteration

Identify the instances of alliteration

Example 1: “Heavy with hint”

Example 2: “shrank and shrank”

Example 3: “fierce drought fiend”

Example 4: “drank and drank”

Identifying the examples are not enough. You need to be able to explain why the poet uses alliteration in these examples.

Avoid vague & general statements like “It is to add impact.”

Comment on the purpose/effect

Example 1: “Heavy with hint”

The repetition of the ‘h’ sound resembles breathlessness or panting, giving the idea that the frogs are finding it difficult to breathe in the heat

Example 2: “shrank and shrank”/Example 3: “fierce drought fiend”

‘f’ and ‘sh’ (fricative and sibilant) sounds like a sizzling sound caused by intense heat, so it helps convey the sense that it is very hot during the drought.

Example 4: “drank and drank”

Repetition of the thudding ‘d’ sound in “drank and drank,” together with the quick rhythm of the phrase, suggests how the water in the pool is depleted quickly

4. What is the effect of the repetition of some words in the

first stanza?

The repetition of the words “drank” and “shrank” gives the sense that the pool was progressively dried up. It also suggests that the drought has gone on for a long time.

5. “Wake! wake! awake! awake!”

What sound is the poet imitating here?

The poet is imitating the croaking of frogs.

6(a) Give two examples of onomatopoeia in stanza 3.

“booms”/ “Crash”

Comment on the sound effect that the poet has achieved in

stanza 3. The use of onomatopoeia (booms, crash) vividly

brings out the sound of thunder and rainfall during a storm.

The use of alliteration of the plosive ‘d’ sound in “deeper din” and the various plosive sounds in words like “time,” “tonight,” “delight,” “blended” serve to imitate the cacophony of sounds that goes on in the midst of a storm.

The fricative sounds in the words “thunder,” “floods flow” and “flash” represents the sound of water flowing.

All these have the effect of letting the reader ‘hear’ the storm.

Explain in your own words what you think the following lines mean:

“… And every time the skies crash (each time the lightning strikes)

The swamps flash! (the swamps are lit up)

And the whole place will be tonight (There is a sense of anticipation that that night, the whole place will have)

A pandemonium of delight …” (lots of excitement and joy)

Each time the lightning strikes, the swamps are lit up. There is a sense of anticipation that that night, the whole place will have, lots of excitement and joy.