1. Two examples of simile:
- "Like an old opera tune" compares the lady's beauty to a faded, nostalgic musical piece, suggesting her charm is timeless but worn.
- "Or like the sun-flooded silks / Of an eighteenth-century boudoir" compares her appearance to luxurious, aged fabrics in a private, feminine space, evoking elegance that has weathered time.
2. Two examples of metaphor:
- "In your eyes / Smoulder the fallen roses of outlived minutes" equates the lady’s eyes with smoldering, dead roses and expired time, implying her gaze holds lingering passion and the decay of past moments.
- "My vigor is a new-minted penny" compares the speaker’s vitality to a shiny, newly made coin, suggesting it is fresh, valuable, and offered as a gift to the lady.
3. One example of personification:
- "Smoulder the fallen roses of outlived minutes" personifies the roses by giving them the human action of smoldering, implying they retain heat or emotion despite being dead, thus reflecting the lingering intensity in the lady’s eyes.
4. One example of hyperbole:
- "And I grow mad with gazing / At your blent colors" exaggerates the speaker’s reaction to the lady’s appearance, suggesting their admiration is so intense it drives them to madness, emphasizing overwhelming fascination.
5. The subject of this poem is an aging, beautiful woman. The poem explores her faded yet enduring allure, blending admiration with melancholy. It reflects on how time has marked her, yet she still captivates the speaker through her complex, layered presence — “beautiful and faded,” with “blent colors” and a soul whose perfume is “vague and suffusing.”
6. The tone of this poem is reverent and wistful. The speaker treats the subject with deep admiration and awe, calling her “beautiful and faded” and delighting in her “half-tones.” Yet there’s a sense of loss and nostalgia, as seen in references to “outlived minutes” and “fallen roses.” The speaker offers their “vigor” as a humble gift, showing devotion tinged with melancholy.
7. The mood of this poem is contemplative and hauntingly romantic. It makes the reader feel a quiet ache for lost beauty and time, while also marveling at its persistence. Phrases like “sun-flooded silks,” “smoulder the fallen roses,” and “I grow mad with gazing” evoke a dreamy, almost obsessive admiration that lingers long after reading.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of 5th grade poem worksheet.
