How a Poem Is Built
Grade 4 - Reading - Building Confidence
Read this first
The Weather Vane
Upon the barn, so old and worn. A rooster spins since early morn. It creaks and turns with every gust. Its metal red with time and rust. Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
When morning light begins to break. The rooster turns for goodness sake. By noon it points against the sun. Its shadow short till day is done. Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
At night the stars begin to gleam. The old vane rests as if to dream. Tomorrow brings another day. To spin and point and lead the way. Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
What is this poem mostly about?
- a weathervane spinning through a day
- a train traveling through the night
- an old clock marking time in a house
- an old windmill turning in the wind
How many stanzas does this poem have?
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How many lines are in each stanza of this poem?
- 3
- 5
- 6
- 7
Not counting the refrain, what is the rhyme scheme of the first four lines?
- AABB
- ABAB
- AAAA
- ABCB
Which line repeats in this poem as a refrain?
- Tick after tick, the hours pass.
- Rolling on through the dark.
- Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
- Around and around it goes.
How many times does the refrain appear in this poem?
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Which word from the poem rhymes with "worn"?
- hat
- back
- morn
- command
What is the first line of this poem?
- In the hallway, tall and grand.
- Beside the field, so wide and flat.
- The night train rumbles down the track.
- Upon the barn, so old and worn.
What is the last line of this poem?
- Rolling on through the dark.
- Around and around it goes.
- Spinning slow, then spinning fast.
- Tick after tick, the hours pass.
What effect does repeating the refrain have on this poem?
- It is a mistake that should be removed from the poem.
- It creates a steady rhythm and reminds the reader what the poem is about.
- It changes the poem's rhyme scheme completely.
- It replaces the need for a title.