GRADE TEN

UNSEEN POETRY PRACTICE 2

Read the poem carefully then answer items 1-10. Be sure to examine what aspect
of the poem each question addresses
Death of a Comrade (1950s)
Death must not find us thinking that we die
Too soon, too soon
Our banner draped for you.
I would prefer
the banner in the wind.
Not bound so tightly
5 in a scarlet fold
not sodden sodden
with your people's tears
but flashing on the pole
we bear aloft
down and beyond this dark, dark lane of rags.
10
Dear Comrade,
if it must be
you speak no more with me
nor smile no more with me
nor march no more with me
then let me take
a patience and a calm for even now the greener leaf explodes
15 sun brighten stone
and all the river burns.
Now, from the mourning vanguard moving on
dear Comrade I salute you and I say
Death will not find us thinking that we die.
20 by Martin Carter

1. The theme of the poem is BEST described (A) a rebellion against oppression
as:
(B) hope for the continuation of a purposeful
cause
(C) death and its effect on close friends
(D) nature in solidarity with human feelings.
(B) as symbol of sorrow and tears only
(C) as a symbol of death and dishonor
(D) as a symbol of confinement and
oppression

2. The expression “death must not find us 6. The poem evokes a mood of:
thinking that we die (line 1) is an example
(A) apathy
of:
(B) understanding
(A) paradox
(C) responsiveness
(B) synechdoche
(D) hopefulness
(C) metaphor
(D) antithesis
7. The poet employs all of the following
devices EXCEPT:
3. Lines 13-17 suggest that:
(A) personification
(A) the comrades have decided to fight for
(B) metaphor
different reasons
(C) apostrophe
(B) there is enmity between the comrades
(D) imagery
(C) one comrade is in conflict with the other
and chooses to pull out of the fight
(D) the time of death may come and so the 8. “Vanguard moving on” (line 22) is used
comrades may inevitably part as a/an :
(A) metaphor
4. The speaker’s tone is BEST described as: (B) pun
(A) foreboding and callous (C) contrasting idea
(B) encouraging and resilient (D) oxymoron
(C) resigned and accepting
(D) critical and condescending

5. The “banner” mentioned in the poem 9. A word that could BEST replace ‘sodden’
(lines 3 and 5) is used: (line 8) is:
(A) both as a symbol of death and freedom (A) inundated
(B) permeated (A) unperturbed since he views death as a
natural part of life
(C) dripping
(B) accepting but hopeful because he
(D) saturated
believes he will see his comrade again
(C) very optimistic since he does not view
death as a finality
(D) resilient as he refuses to accept death
will do all that is in his power to avoid it.

10.
10. The speaker’s attitude towards death is
BEST described as: