SAMPLE POETRY ANALYSIS PASSAGE AND QUESTIONS

Andrew Marvell’s “On a Drop of Dew”

See how the orient dew,

Shed from the bosom of the morn

Into the blowing roses,

Yet careless of its mansion new,

For the clear region where ’twas born

Round in itself incloses:

And in its little globe’s extent,

Frames as it can its native element.

How it the purple flow’r does slight,

Scarce touching where it lies,

But gazing back upon the skies,

Shines with a mournful light,

Like its own tear,

Because so long divided from the sphere.

Restless it rolls and unsecure,

Trembling lest it grow impure,

Till the warm sun pity its pain,

And to the skies exhale it back again.

So the soul, that drop, that ray

Of the clear fountain of eternal day,

Could it within the human flow’r be seen,

Remembering still its former height,

Shuns the sweet leaves and blossoms green,

And recollecting its own light,

Does, in its pure and circling thoughts, express

The greater heaven in an heaven less.

In how coy a figure wound,

Every way it turns away:

So the world excluding round,

Yet receiving in the day,

Dark beneath, but bright above,

Here disdaining, there in love.

How loose and easy hence to go,

How girt and ready to ascend,

Moving but on a point below,

It all about does upwards bend.

Such did the manna’s sacred dew distill,

White and entire, though congealed and chill,

Congealed on earth : but does, dissolving, run

Into the glories of th’ almighty sun.

Questions and Answers:

1. The overall content of the poem can best be described by which statement?

   a) The characteristics of a drop of dew are related to those of the human soul.

2. In context, “careless of its mansion new” (line 4) most nearly means

   c) the dew drop is unconcerned with its beautiful surroundings

3. The speaker’s metaphor for the human body is

   d) “the sweet leaves and blossoms green” (lines 23–24)

4. Which of the following is the antecedent of “its” in “Does, in its pure and circling thoughts,/ espress” (lines 26–27)?

   a) “soul” (line 19)

5. All of the following aspects of the dew drop are emphasized in the poem EXCEPT

   d) its will to live

6. Lines 9–14 suggest the drop of dew is

   b) full of unhappy longing

7. Lines 19–28 make explicit

   a) the analogy between the drop of dew and the soul

8. Each of the following pairs of phrases refers to the same action, object, or concept EXCEPT

   b) “globe’s extent” (line 7)…“the sphere” (line 14)

9. Which of the following best paraphrases the meaning in context of “So the world excluding round,/ yet receiving in the day” (lines 31– 32)?

   d) Although the dew drop and the soul shut out the material world, they let in the light of heaven.

10. In line 42, the sun is symbolic of

    d) God

11. Which of the following sets of adjectives is best suited to describing the poem’s tone?

    c) Intricate, delicate, and worshipful

12. In the final four lines of the poem, the poet suggests that

    e) death brings spiritual unity with God

13. Which of the following adjectives is LEAST important to the poem’s theme?

    a) “blowing” (line 3)

• This poem is challenging but absolutely typical of what you will find on the AP Exam.

• Marvell (1621–1678) was one of the metaphysical poets.

• The metaphysical poets were a loosely connected group of 17th-century poets who fashioned a type of elaborately clever, often witty verse with a decidedly intellectual twist.

• The metaphysical poets are noted for taking a comparison—for example, “a drop of dew is like the soul”—and developing it over dozens of lines. Lots of metaphysical poetry appears on the multiple-choice section, not because metaphysical poetry is necessarily great but because unlike most poetry, it lends itself well to multiple-choice questions.

Poetry Analysis Passage Drill 1

“On the Death of J.C. an Infant”

NO more the flow’ry scenes of pleasure rise,

Nor charming prospects greet the mental eyes,

No more with joy we view that lovely face

Smiling, disportive, flush’d with ev’ry grace.

The tear of sorrow flows from ev’ry eye,

Groans answer groans, and signs to sighs reply;

When sudden pangs shot thro’ each aching heart,

When, Death, thy messenger dispatch’d his dart?

Thy dread attendants, all-destroying Pow’r,

Hurried the infant to his mortal hour.

Could’st thou unpitying close those radiant eyes?

Or fail’d his artless beauties to surprize?

Could not his innocence thy stroke controul,

Thy purpose shake, and soften all thy soul?

The blooming babe, with shades of Death o’erspread,

No more shall smile, no more shall raise its head,

But, like a branch that from the tree is torn,

Falls prostrate, wither’d, languid, and forlorn.

“Where flies my James?” ‘tis thus I seem to hear

The parent ask, “Some angel tell me where

“He wings his passage thro’ the yielding air?”

Methinks a cherub bending from the skies

Observes the question, and serene replies,

In heav’ns high palaces your babe appears:

Prepare to meet him, and dismiss your tears.”

Shall not th’ intelligence your grief restrain,

And turn the mournful to the chearful strain?

Cease your complaints, suspend each rising sigh,

Cease to accuse the Ruler of the sky.

Parents, no more indulge the falling tear:

Let Faith to heav’n’s refulgent domes repair,

There see your infant, like a seraph glow:

What charms celestial in his numbers flow

Melodious, while the foul-enchanting strain

Dwells on his tongue, and fills th’ ethereal plain?

Enough—for ever cease your murm’ring breath;

Not as a foe, but friend converse with Death,

Since to the port of happiness unknown

He brought that treasure which you call your own.

The gift of heav’n intrusted to your hand

Cheerful resign at the divine command:

Not at your bar must sov’reign Wisdom stand.

Questions and Answers:

1. Taken as a whole, the poem is best understood to be (B) an elegy - is a poem that mourns the death of someone

2. The poet’s use of syncope throughout the poem serves (C) to make the line fit the poem’s meter

3. Line 29 contains an example of (B) an allusion

4. The poet makes use of all of the following literary devices in lines 1–4 EXCEPT (A)metaphor

5. Grammatically, the word “wings” (line 21) is a (E)verb

6. The tone in lines 1–21 is best characterized as (D)woeful

7. Lines 30–31 can best be paraphrased as (A)“Dismiss your tears and return your faith to heaven”

8. Each clause in lines 28–29 is best described as a (B) command

9. The primary purpose of lines 22–25 is to (D) console the grieving parents

10. In lines 13–14, “thy” refers to (C) Death

11. Which course of action would the speaker most wish the audience to take?

    (E) Entrust the infant to a higher power