Narrator's Tone Worksheet

Directions: Read each poem and then answer the following questions.

The Prince By Josephine Dodge Daskam My heart it was a cup of gold That at his lip did long to lie, But he hath drunk the red wine down, And tossed the goblet1 by. My heart it was a floating bird That through the world did wander free, But he hath locked it in a cage, And lost the silver key.

My heart it was a white, white rose That bloomed upon a broken bough2, He did but wear it for an hour, And it is withered now. 1. goblet: a drinking cup with a stem and a foot. 2. bough: a firm branch of a tree

1. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

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2. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

A Dream

By Stephen Phillips

My dead love came to me, and said:  'God gives me one hour's rest,  To spend with thee on earth again:  How shall we spend it best?'  'Why, as of old,' I said; and so  We quarrelled1, as of old:  But, when I turned to make my peace,  That one short hour was told.

1. quarrel: a verbal dispute or heated argument

3. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

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4. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

The Dilettante1: a Modern Type By Paul Lawrence Dunbar He scribbles some in prose2 and verse,  And now and then he prints it;  He paints a little,--gathers some  Of Nature's gold and mints it.  He plays a little, sings a song,  Acts tragic roles, or funny;  He does, because his love is strong,  But not, oh, not for money!

He studies almost everything  From social art to science;  A thirsty mind, a flowing spring,  Demand and swift compliance3.  He looms above the sordid crowd--  At least through friendly lenses;  While his mamma looks pleased and proud,  And kindly pays expenses. 1. dilettante: an amateur, someone who dabbles in a field casually 2. prose: written language, not poetry 3. verse: poetry, usually with a fixed rhythm or meter 4. compliance: yielding or agreeing to or with another to conform

5. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

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6. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

To a Child Dancing Upon the Shore By William Butler Yeats  Dance there upon the shore;  What need have you to care  For wind or water's roar?  And tumble out your hair  That the salt drops have wet;  Being young you have not known  The fool's triumph, nor yet  Love lost as soon as won.  And he, the best warrior, dead  And all the sheaves to bind!  What need that you should dread  The monstrous crying of wind?

7. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

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8. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.