1. Explain in your own words what this poem is about.
2. Write out the rhyming scheme of the poem. What is the diff erence between the octet (fi rst eight lines) and the sestet (last six lines)?
3. What are the similarities between this poem and a sonnet? (Go back to page 310 to revise sonnets.)
4. In your opinion, what is the tone or mood of this poem? Choose from the options given here or choose one of your own and explain
your answer. happy sad
regretful nostalgic melancholic thankful
5. Write a short paragraph explaining why you would or would not vote for this poem in the ‘Poem for Ireland’ campaign.
This poem has cinematic (cinema-like) qualities as it describes two vivid scenes – a country kitchen setting in the octet and a wake (funeral) scene in the sestet. Imagine you are a stage or fi lm director. Write the stage/screen directions for one of the scenes.
❍ Mention what props and costumes will be needed. ❍ Give instructions about where the characters will stand. ❍ Use quotes to back up your decisions.
❍ You might like to include a sketch to accompany your work, note any background music/sound eff ects required and describe the kind of lighting you think would be appropriate.
❍ You could identify particular actors you would wish to play the parts of the diff erent characters.