Name: _____________________________
Tone Worksheet 5

Directions: Read each poem and then answer the following questions.

The Prince
By Josephine Dodge Daskam

My heart it was a cup of gold
That at his lip did long to lie,
But he hath drunk the red wine down,
And tossed the goblet1 by.

My heart it was a floating bird
That through the world did wander free,
But he hath locked it in a cage,
And lost the silver key.	

My heart it was a white, white rose
That bloomed upon a broken bough2,
He did but wear it for an hour,
And it is withered now.

1. goblet: a drinking cup with a stem and a foot.
2. bough: a firm branch of a tree	

1. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

	

A Dream
By Stephen Phillips
   My dead love came to me, and said:
     'God gives me one hour's rest,
   To spend with thee on earth again:
     How shall we spend it best?'

   'Why, as of old,' I said; and so
     We quarrelled1, as of old:
   But, when I turned to make my peace,
     That one short hour was told.	

1. quarrel: a verbal dispute or heated argument	

3. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

4. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

	

The Dilettante1: a Modern Type
By Paul Lawrence Dunbar

He scribbles some in prose2 and verse,
   And now and then he prints it;
 He paints a little,--gathers some
   Of Nature's gold and mints it.

 He plays a little, sings a song,
   Acts tragic roles, or funny;
 He does, because his love is strong,
   But not, oh, not for money!	 He studies almost everything
   From social art to science;
 A thirsty mind, a flowing spring,
   Demand and swift compliance3.

 He looms above the sordid crowd--
   At least through friendly lenses;
 While his mamma looks pleased and proud,
   And kindly pays expenses.

1. dilettante: an amateur, someone who dabbles in a field casually
2. prose: written language, not poetry
3. verse: poetry, usually with a fixed rhythm or meter
4. compliance: yielding or agreeing to or with another to conform	

5. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.

	

To a Child Dancing Upon the Shore
By William Butler Yeats

    Dance there upon the shore;
    What need have you to care
    For wind or water's roar?
    And tumble out your hair
    That the salt drops have wet;
    Being young you have not known
    The fool's triumph, nor yet
    Love lost as soon as won.
    And he, the best warrior, dead
    And all the sheaves to bind!
    What need that you should dread
    The monstrous crying of wind?

	
7. What is this poem about? ____________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the speaker's tone? ___________________________________________________________

Explain your answer using textual evidence.