Name: _________________________________
Figurative Language Poem 8
The Black Land
By Joseph Warren Beach
I will plough the land,
Turning up the black soil.
I will ride upon this heaving surface
As a boat rides upon the water.
Even as a boat
Cleaving the water with an eager keel,
I have run a furrow1
Straight across the ridges.
I will sow down this field,
Scattering gems.
With both hands will I scatter
Quivering emeralds out of a bottomless pouch.
As I tread the loam2
My feet sink deep.
The black earth embraces my ankles
And clings to my bent knees.
Review Questions
I sing as I go
Scattering emeralds.
The wind sings upon my lips,
And pearls stream off my neck and forehead.
I am bathed in a sweat of pearls.
Eyes straight forward
Rest on a brightening ultimate slope.
1. A long narrow trench made in the ground by a plow,
2. Soil with equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay.
Directions: Respond to these questions to the best of your ability. Answer the questions completely. If you need more space, use the back or a separate sheet.
1. Identify one example of simile: explain which two things are being compared.
I will ride upon this heaving surface / As a boat rides upon the water.
Even as a boat / Cleaving the water with an eager keel,
Here are two examples of simile in this poem. The speaker is comparing his plowing to the motion of a boat riding (first example) and cleaving (second example) across the surface of the water. The speaker uses the word "as" to make the comparison; therefore, it is a simile.
There are several other uses of the word "as," but they are not comparisons and, thus, not similes.
2. Identify two examples of metaphor: explain which two things are being compared in each metaphor.
Scattering gems: the speaker compares seeds to gems without using the word "like" or "as."
With both hands will I scatter Quivering emeralds: the speaker implicitly compares seeds to emeralds.
And pearls stream off my neck and forehead: the speaker implicitly compares sweat to pearls.
I am bathed in a sweat of pearls: the speaker compares sweat to pearls without using "like" or "as."
3. Identify two examples of personification: explain what is being personified and how.
Cleaving the water with an eager keel: the keel is given the human trait of eagerness.
The black earth embraces my ankles: the earth is given the ability to embrace.
The wind sings upon my lips: the wind is given the ability to sing.
4. Identify one example of hyperbole: explain what is being exaggerated.
Quivering emeralds out of a bottomless pouch: the pouch cannot actually be bottomless.
Some students might interpret "ultimate slope" as hyperbole, and I would give them credit for this response.
5. What is the subject of this poem? What is this poem about? Explain your response.
This poem is about a farmer ploughing a field, scattering seeds, and sweating.
6. What is the tone of this poem? How does the speaker treat the subject of the poem? Refer to text.
The tone that the speaker uses is proud, strong, determined: statements like "I will..." express the speakers determination.
7. What is the mood of this poem? How does this poem make you feel? Refer to text in your response.
This poem might make readers feels happy, because the farmer is singing, or admiring, because the farmer is free
Name: _________________________________
Figurative Language Poem 8
The Black Land
By Joseph Warren Beach
I will plough the land,
Turning up the black soil.
I will ride upon this heaving surface
As a boat rides upon the water.
Even as a boat
Cleaving the water with an eager keel,
I have run a furrow1
Straight across the ridges.
I will sow down this field,
Scattering gems.
With both hands will I scatter
Quivering emeralds out of a bottomless pouch.
As I tread the loam2
My feet sink deep.
The black earth embraces my ankles
And clings to my bent knees.
Review Questions
I sing as I go
Scattering emeralds.
The wind sings upon my lips,
And pearls stream off my neck and forehead.
I am bathed in a sweat of pearls.
Eyes straight forward
Rest on a brightening ultimate slope.
1. A long narrow trench made in the ground by a plow,
2. Soil with equal amounts of sand, silt, and clay.
Directions: Respond to these questions to the best of your ability. Answer the questions completely. If you need more space, use the back or a separate sheet.
1. Identify one example of simile: explain which two things are being compared.
I will ride upon this heaving surface / As a boat rides upon the water.
Even as a boat / Cleaving the water with an eager keel,
Here are two examples of simile in this poem. The speaker is comparing his plowing to the motion of a boat riding (first example) and cleaving (second example) across the surface of the water. The speaker uses the word "as" to make the comparison; therefore, it is a simile.
There are several other uses of the word "as," but they are not comparisons and, thus, not similes.
2. Identify two examples of metaphor: explain which two things are being compared in each metaphor.
Scattering gems: the speaker compares seeds to gems without using the word "like" or "as."
With both hands will I scatter Quivering emeralds: the speaker implicitly compares seeds to emeralds.
And pearls stream off my neck and forehead: the speaker implicitly compares sweat to pearls.
I am bathed in a sweat of pearls: the speaker compares sweat to pearls without using "like" or "as."
3. Identify two examples of personification: explain what is being personified and how.
Cleaving the water with an eager keel: the keel is given the human trait of eagerness.
The black earth embraces my ankles: the earth is given the ability to embrace.
The wind sings upon my lips: the wind is given the ability to sing.
4. Identify one example of hyperbole: explain what is being exaggerated.
Quivering emeralds out of a bottomless pouch: the pouch cannot actually be bottomless.
Some students might interpret "ultimate slope" as hyperbole, and I would give them credit for this response.
5. What is the subject of this poem? What is this poem about? Explain your response.
This poem is about a farmer ploughing a field, scattering seeds, and sweating.
6. What is the tone of this poem? How does the speaker treat the subject of the poem? Refer to text.
The tone that the speaker uses is proud, strong, determined: statements like "I will..." express the speakers determination.
7. What is the mood of this poem? How does this poem make you feel? Refer to text in your response.
This poem might make readers feels happy, because the farmer is singing, or admiring, because the farmer is free
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