She's only filled with an old blind wish.

Question

It isn't even hers but came to her
in the rain
or the soft wind,
which is a gate through which her life keeps
walking.

She can't see
herself apart from the rest of the world
or the world from what she must do
every spring.
Crawling up the high hill,
luminous under the sand that has packed
against her skin.
she doesn't dream
she knows
she is a part of the pond she lives in,
the tall trees are her children,
the birds that swim above her
are tied to her by an unbreakable string.

—“The Turtle,”
Mary Oliver

In your poem, you should use visual elements to separate ideas. Which three visual elements does this excerpt of “The Turtle” include? Check all that apply.

capital letters to start each sentence
a break between stanzas
lines that are all the same length
punctuation such as periods and commas
lines that each contain a complete sentence

Answer 1

The excerpt of “The Turtle” by Mary Oliver includes the following visual elements:

1. Capital letters to start each sentence - Each new sentence begins with a capital letter.
2. Punctuation such as periods and commas - The poem uses various punctuation marks, including periods and commas, to separate thoughts and phrases.
3. A break between stanzas - Although not explicitly visible in the excerpt provided, poetry often utilizes breaks between stanzas to separate ideas.

The other options do not apply as accurately to this excerpt:

• Lines that are all the same length: The lines vary in length and do not conform to a uniform standard.
• Lines that each contain a complete sentence: Not all lines contain complete sentences; some are fragments or phrases that contribute to the overall meaning of the poem.

Thus, the applicable visual elements are capital letters to start each sentence, punctuation such as periods and commas, and a break between stanzas.