Question 6

SECTION D: POETRY

In this section, questions are set on the following poems:

• ‘Sonnet 18’ by William Shakespeare
• ‘Alexandra’ by Mongane Wally Serote

NOTE: Answer the questions set on BOTH poems, i.e. QUESTION 6.1 AND
QUESTION 6.2.

QUESTION 6

6.1 Read the poem carefully and then answer the questions which follow.
The number of marks allocated to each question serves as a guide to the
expected length of your answer.

6.1.1 Complete the following sentences by filling in the missing words.
Write only the word next to the question numbers
(6.1.1(a) to 6.1.1(d)) in the ANSWER BOOK.

This poem is an English (a) … It consists of (b) … quatrains and
a (c) … couplet. It has a characteristic rhyme scheme of (d) … (4)

6.1.2 Explain the comparison the speaker wants to make in line 1. (2)

6.1.3 Refer to lines 3–4 (‘Rough winds do … short a date’).
Using your OWN words, state TWO negative qualities of summer
mentioned in these lines. (2)

6.1.4 Refer to lines 5−6 (‘Sometime too hot … gold complexion
dimmed’).
Explain the FIGURATIVE meaning of ‘his gold complexion
dimmed’. (2)

6.1.5 Refer to lines 7−8 (‘And every fair … changing course untrimmed’).
Using your OWN words, explain how beauty is lost. State TWO
points. (2)

6.1.6 Refer to line 9 (‘But thy eternal … shall not fade’).

(a) Identify the figure of speech used in this line. (1)
(b) Explain this figure of speech in the context of the poem. (2)

6.1.7 Do you agree with the speaker’s statement that his beloved’s
beauty will last eternally?

Discuss your view. (3)

AND

6.2 Read the poem carefully and then answer the questions which follow. The
number of marks allocated to each question serves as a guide to the
expected length of your answer.

6.2.1 Describe the setting of this poem. (2)

6.2.2 Refer to lines 8−9 (‘We can’t choose … life to death’).

(a) Identify the figure of speech used in line 9. (1)
(b) Explain this figure of speech used in line 9. (2)

6.2.3 Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentence.
Write only the letter (A–D) next to the question number (6.2.3) in
the ANSWER BOOK.

‘Your breasts ooze … of your dongas’ (line 19) is an example of
a/an …
A metaphor.
B simile.
C euphemism.
D oxymoron. (1)

6.2.4 Refer to stanza 4.

(a) What tone would the speaker use in this stanza? (1)
(b) Why would the speaker use this tone? (1)

6.2.5 What is the speaker’s state of mind in stanza 5?
Substantiate your answer. (2)

6.2.6 Why is the following statement FALSE?
‘I silently waded back to you’ (line 39) means that the speaker
returns to Alexandra easily. (1)

6.2.7 One of the themes in the poem ‘Alexandra’ is hardship.
Discuss this theme. (3)

6.2.8 The speaker has a love-hate relationship with Alexandra.

Discuss your view. (3)
[35]

TOTAL SECTION D: 35
GRAND TOTAL: 70