Read the poem "Monet’s ‘Waterlilies’” by Robert Hayden.

Question

Today as the news from Selma and Saigon
poisons the air like fallout,
I come again to see
the serene, great picture that I love.

Here space and time exist in light
the eye like the eye of faith believes.
The seen, the known
dissolve in iridescence, become
illusive flesh of light
that was not, was, forever is.

O light beheld as through refracting tears.
Here is the aura of that world
each of us has lost.
Here is the shadow of its joy.

What evidence supports the conclusion that the poem is written in free verse? Select two options.

There are three stanzas.
There is no rhyme scheme.
The lines are unequal in length.
There is a regular rhyme scheme.
There is a pattern of stressed syllables.

Answer 1

The two options that support the conclusion that the poem "Monet’s ‘Waterlilies’” by Robert Hayden is written in free verse are:

1. There is no rhyme scheme.
2. The lines are unequal in length.

These characteristics are indicative of free verse poetry, which typically does not adhere to strict rhyme or meter.

Answer 2

Let me analyze this step by step:

1. Examining structure:
- Looking at line lengths: They vary considerably (e.g., "I come again to see" vs. "O light beheld as through refracting tears")
- Looking at rhyme: Most lines don't rhyme with each other (e.g., "air/see", "light/believes", "known/iridescence")

2. Checking options:
- Three stanzas: While the poem has stanzas, this doesn't indicate free verse
- No rhyme scheme: True - the lines end with different sounds without a pattern
- Unequal line length: True - lines vary from very short to much longer
- Regular rhyme scheme: False - there isn't one
- Pattern of stressed syllables: False - there's no consistent meter

Based on this analysis, the two correct pieces of evidence that support this being free verse are:
1. There is no rhyme scheme
2. The lines are unequal in length

These are hallmarks of free verse, which deliberately breaks from traditional poetic constraints of rhyme and meter to allow for more natural expression.