Part A

Question

Which sentence best describes the poem's meter?
A. Each line has 10 syllables, with the first five syllables unstressed and the second five stressed.
B. Each line has 10 syllables, with the first and last syllable stressed and the others unstressed.
C. Each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.
D. Each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.
Part B

What effect does the meter described in Part A have on the poem?
A. It gives the poem a melodious quality to sing the praises of Frederick Douglass.
B. It gives the poem a realistic quality that mimics how Frederick Douglass sounded.
C. It gives the poem a somber quality to describe Frederick Douglass’s fear of death.
D. It gives the poem a monotonous quality to stress the dreariness of Frederick Douglass’s life.

Answer 1

Part A: The best answer is D. Each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. This describes iambic meter, which is common in English poetry.

Part B: The best answer is A. It gives the poem a melodious quality to sing the praises of Frederick Douglass. The iambic meter contributes to a flowing and lyrical quality, often used in poetry to evoke admiration or tribute.