Glossary of terms
Atmosphere, character , compare, contrast, extended metaphor, images, imagery, paragraph form, represents, stanza, symbol, view of the world,
November 1997: “An Early Start in Mid-winter”
In paragraph form and with reference to stanzas one and two, discuss how the poet uses sound imagery to describe, “an early start in mid-winter.”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the poet feels about midwinter.
January 1998: “The School Globe”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss what the globe represents to the poet.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the poet’s adult view of the world.
April 1998: “Crossing Willow Bridge”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the speaker’s feelings toward her mother.
The speaker’s mother and the dog are at opposite stages of their lives. In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the poet describes this contrast.
June 1998: “The Writer”
In paragraph form, using examples from the poem, compare the young writer with the bird.
In paragraph form, using examples from the poem, discuss the extended metaphor of a ship’s journey.
August 1998: “From My Father’s Hand”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the speaker’s relationship with and feelings toward the father.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, explain how the poet develops images of death.
November 1998: “Snowy Owl After Midnight”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, describe the character that the speaker believes the owl to have.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, show that the speaker feels closely connected to the owl.
January 1999: “Station”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the poet’s use of contrast between light and dark to illustrate the father’s mixed feelings.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, explain what the train symbolizes.
April 1999: “Home for the Aged”
In paragraph form and with reference to the first two stanzas of the poem, discuss the poet’s use of descriptive detail to establish atmosphere.
In paragraph form and with reference to the questions posed in stanza 3 (lines 10–17), explain what the speaker is suggesting about the memories of the elderly and what their future holds.
June 1999: “Detail”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the tree as a symbol of nature’s durability.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, tell what we learn about the speaker.
August 1999: “Portrait of a Lady”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the qualities of the neighbour that, according to the speaker, and as suggested by the title, make her a “lady”.
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the extended metaphor of gardening as used in the poem.
November 1999: “Elephants”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, compare and contrast the boy’s story of his ancestors’ graveyard with the legend of the elephants’ graveyard.
January 2000: “Death Over Water”
Throughout the poem, the poet compares the relationship between the eagle and the gull to “a pair of ice dancers.” In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the poet’s use of the extended metaphor of ice dancing.
April 2000: “The Pigeon, Icarus”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the speaker’s conflicting attitudes toward the pigeons.
June 2000: “A Mother”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the poet portrays a loving atmosphere within this family.
August 2000: “Isolate”
“The only child” is different from other children. In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the personality and behaviour of “the only child” in this poem.
November 2000: “November Sun”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the poet’s use of personification.
January 2001: “Winter Saturday”
Throughout the poem, the poet compares the farmers with caterpillars. In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the development of this image.
April 2001: “To the Foot from its Child”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the journey of the child’s foot in the poem is similar to the journey of life.
June 2001: “Dearest Margaret”
The poem expresses the speaker’s idea of a perfect lifestyle. In paragraph form and with
reference to the poem, discuss the qualities of this lifestyle.
August 2001: “Gathering”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the poet’s use of imagery to portray the aging process.
November 2001: “The Horses”
The poet uses the horses symbolically in his poem. In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss this symbolism.
January 2002: “Wordsmith”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the maintenance of the house acts as a metaphor for the relationship between the father and the daughter.
April 2002: “Beyond the Snow Belt”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss a major theme presented by the poet.
June 2002: “Quarter Horse Colts”
The poet makes extensive use of imagery. In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how imagery contributes to theme.
August 2002: “Taking Earth Inland”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the symbolism of the mugs.
November 2002: “What I Have Left is Imagining”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss the narrator’s attitudes towards the Arctic.
January 2003: “High School Senior”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem discuss the feelings the speaker experiences and the realizations she reaches.
April 2003: “Packing for the Future: Instructions”
In paragraph form and with specific reference to “Packing for the Future: Instructions,” discuss theme in the poem.
June 2003: “Digging”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem “Digging,” discuss what the speaker values.
August 2003: “Crab”
In paragraph form and with reference to this poem, discuss how imagery reflects the different attitudes of the speaker.
November 2003: “Birthday Present from First Born”
The poet uses the “small silver frog” as a symbol in this poem. In paragraph form and with reference to this poem, discuss the symbolism of the “small silver frog.”
January 2004: “Railway Club Blues”
In paragraph form and with specific reference to “Railway Club Blues,” discuss theme in this poem.
April 2004: “Basement Stairs”
In paragraph form and with reference to the poem, discuss how the speaker feels about her Sunday mornings as a child.
June 2004: “Summer in the Yakima Valley”
In paragraph form and with reference to this poem, discuss contrast.
August 2004: “Request to a Year”
In paragraph form and with reference to “Request to a Year,” discuss theme in this poem.
November 2004: “Quarry Pigeon Cove”
In paragraph form and with reference to “Quarry Pigeon’s Cove,” discuss the diver’s experience.