Evaluating a Text's Significance in History: Henry David Thoreau - "Civil Disobedience"

Question 1

What do you notice about the structure?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

Alternating lines are about the same length and all end with a dash.

Question 2

What do you notice about the words at the end of lines two and four?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

They are near but imperfect rhymes.

Question 3

The images reveal that the poem is about

Revolt · Accepted Answer

the joy that follows a struggle.

Question 4

What impact does the use of dashes have on the rhythmic structure of this poem?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The dashes create a slow rhythm that is pleasant for the reader.

Question 5

How are the images in the first and second stanzas different?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The first is dreary; the second is cheerful.

Question 6

What do the contrasting images reveal about the tone of the speaker?

Revolt · Accepted Answer

The speaker is optimistic.

Evaluating a Text's Significance in History: Henry David Thoreau - "Civil Disobedience" Answers