The+Shirt

The Shirt
by Jane Kenyon The shirt touches his neck and smooths over his back. It slides down his sides. It even goes down below his belt— down into his pants. Lucky shirt.

1. An accurate description of the poem's wit is a. acerbic b. sneering c. derisive d. sly and casual e. sardonic

2. The sentence structure of the poem can best be described as a. imperative and simple b. declarative and loose c. balanced d. inverted order e. periodic

3. The speaker's tone and attitude are a. detached b. provocative c. fanciful d. joking e. grave

4. The poem's language can best be described as a. spare and straightforward b. abstruse c. sensuous d. emotional e. idiomatic

5. The author's use of repetition lines 3 and 4 creates a. irony b. a juxtaposition c. meiosis d. emphasis e. hyperbole

7. The most unusual aspect of the poem is its a. use of personification. b. central conceit. c. surprising change in direction. d. comic speaker e. high comedy

8. In terms of the poem's purspose, which of the following would be an accurate observation? a. It summarizes the poet's actions. b. It compares and contrasts the shirt with the man. c. It persuades by emotion. d. It describes the poet's convictions. e. It describes the speaker's desire.

WRITING 1. Discuss the literary or rhetorical devices that give meaning to "The Shirt." How do they accomplish this?