Page 97 - Real English 2024 Book 8

THE ECHOING GREEN

C Think

C1 Think carefully and answer in detail.

1. Contrast the mood of the first stanza with that of the third stanza.
2. Explain the meaning of ‘echoing’ in relation to the poem.

3. Do you think it is possible to achieve everlasting happiness? Why or why not? If yes, how?
4. Old John in the poem fondly remembers his own childhood. What are a few things from
your past that you cherish?
5. What do you think you will miss and remember when you are old?

D Language in Use

Appreciation

Rhyme in a poem is a literary device that makes the poem musical. A rhyme scheme is the
specific pattern of similar-sounding words at the end of each line.
Look at the last word in each of these lines of the first stanza of the poem ‘The Echoing Green’.

The sun does arise,
And make happy the skies,
The merry bells ring
To welcome the spring;

The last word arise ends with the same sound as skies; ring rhymes with spring. Two
consecutive lines rhyme with each other. Similar is the case with the rest of the lines. If we mark
the rhyming sounds with letters of the alphabet beginning with a for the first sound, we get this
pattern in the poem: aa bb cc dd ee. This is the rhyme scheme of ‘The Echoing Green’.
Find out the rhyme scheme in the other stanzas.

If a poem or song rhymes, the lines end with words that have very similar sounds. The sounds of
rhyme is pleasing to our ears.

D1 Find the rhyme scheme.
1. Read these lines on fireworks by James Reeves and pick out the rhyming words.

They rise like sudden fiery flowers
That burst upon the night,
Then fall to earth in burning showers
Of crimson, blue and white.

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