Poetry Comprehension and Analysis
Read the poem carefully, then answer the questions below.
The Lighthouse Keeper
Upon the rocky cliffs so high,
Where seabirds wheel and cry,
The lighthouse stands both tall and true,
A guardian of ocean blue.
Through stormy nights and foggy days,
Its beam cuts through the haze,
A steadfast friend to ships at sea,
Guiding them to safety.
The keeper climbs the winding stair,
With weathered hands and silver hair,
He tends the light with gentle care,
A lonely vigil, yet so fair.
For though he lives in solitude,
His purpose fills him with certitude,
Each life he saves upon the wave,
Makes every sacrifice worth the grave.
1. What is the main purpose of the lighthouse according to the poem?
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2. Identify the rhyme scheme used in the first stanza.
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3. Find and write down two examples of personification from the poem.
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4. What two words in the third stanza tell us that the keeper has been doing this job for a long time?
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5. What does the word "certitude" mean in the context of the final stanza?
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6. How does the poem present the lighthouse keeper's feelings about his job? Use evidence from the text.
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7. What is the main theme of this poem?
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8. The poet uses imagery of the natural world. Give two examples and explain their effect.
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