Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
Today you will read three poems that have a similar theme: “Do Not Go Gentle into
that Good Night” by Dylan Thomas, “Ode to Benjamin Franklin” by Philip
Freneau, and “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman. As you review these
poems, you will answer questions and gather information so that you can write an
analysis essay synthesizing what you have learned.
Directions: Read the passage and then answer the questions that follow.
“Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night”
By Dylan Thomas
1 Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rage at close of day; Rage, rage
against the dying of the light.
2 Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not
go gentle into that good night.
3 Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail
deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against
the dying of the light.
4 Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And
learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go
gentle into that good night.
5 Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind
eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against
the dying of the light.
6 And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless
me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle
into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
1. Throughout the poem, what does the phrase “Rage, rage against the dying of the
light” most likely mean?
A. Those who are remembered as gentle will be forgotten.
B. The end of the day is glorious when we have worked hard.
C. Though we may die our actions live on in immortality.
D. We should not surrender to death.
2. Which sentence from the passage supports the answer to Question 1?
A. “Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.”
B. “Wild men who caught and sang in flight”
C. “Because their words had forked no lightning”
D. “Do not go gentle into that good night”
3. What is the primary effect of the shift between stanzas 4 & 5?
A. It helps the audience sympathize with the poet’s father.
B. It refutes what the poet had stated before.
C. It moves the focus of the poem from a universal audience to a specific audience.
D. It lets the reader know something significant has changed.
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
4. What is the theme of the poem?
5. How does the poet’s repetition contribute to the theme of the poem?
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Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
"On the Death of Dr. Benjamin Franklin" by Philip Freneau, written in 1788 and
published in American Poetry in 1918 by C. Scribner’s Sons.
On the Death of Dr. Benjamin Franklin
By Philip Freneau
1 Thus, some tall tree that long hath stood
The glory of its native wood,
By storms destroyed, or length of years,
Demands the tribute of our tears.
2 The pile, that took long time to raise,
To dust returns by slow decays:
But, when its destined years are o'er,
We must regret the loss the more.
3 So long accustomed to your aid,
The world laments your exit made;
So long befriended by your art,
Philosopher, 'tis hard to part!—
When monarchs tumble to the ground,
Successors 1 easily are found:
But, matchless FRANKLIN! what a few
Can hope to rival such as YOU,
Who seized from kings their sceptered 2 pride,
And turned the lightning darts aside.
6. Which of the following best describes the author's perspective on Benjamin
Franklin in the poem?
A. Franklin was a worthy adversary.
B. Franklin was a notable environmentalist.
C. Franklin was worthy of great admiration.
D. Franklin was an avid supporter of the fine arts.
1 successors: people who replace others in an office or position
2 sceptered: an adjective form of the word scepter
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
Read stanza 3 to answer Question 7.
So long accustomed to your aid,
The world laments your exit made;
So long befriended by your art,
Philosopher, 'tis hard to part!—
7. Which phrase is the best synonym for word laments?
A. is respectful of
B. is saddened by
C. rejoices for
D. is resistant to
8. Which statement best clarifies the purpose of the figurative language in stanza 1?
A. In stanza 1, Freneau describes a forest to create a violent and mournful tone.
B. In stanza 1, Freneau uses similes to create an image of Franklin’s unique
accomplishments.
C. In stanza 1, Freneau uses a metaphor to create an image of Franklin’s strength and
wisdom.
D. In stanza 1, Freneau uses hyperbole and personification to create a reflective tone.
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
“O Captain! My Captain!” was written in 1865 by Walt Whitman to honor the death of
American president Abraham Lincoln.
O Captain! My Captain!
By Walt Whitman
1 O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather'd every rack, 3 the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
2 O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.
3 My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still,
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will,
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done,
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
9. What is the best meaning of the term exulting as it is used in stanza 1?
A. mourning
B. celebrating
C. fearing
D. criticizing
3 rack: a cause of extreme anguish or suffering
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
10. Besides the quote that contains the phrase mentioned in Question 10, select the other
quote from the poem that helps the reader understand the meaning of the term exulting.
A. “our fearful trip is done,”
B. “O the bleeding drops of red,”
C. “This arm beneath your head!”
D. “For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;”
11. Which line best signals a shift in tone in the poem?
A. “Fallen cold and dead.”
B. "But O heart! heart! heart!”
C. “O the bleeding drops of red,”
D. “Exult O shores, and ring O bells!”
12. “Explain the shift in tone that occurs in the line you identified in #11 and use
evidence from before and after the shift to support your analysis.
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Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
13. What is the effect of the image “fallen cold and dead,” repeated at the end of each
stanza?
A. The speaker emphasizes the idea that the Captain is not able to celebrate the
victory.
B. The speaker emphasizes the irony that the Captain is dead and people do not
know.
C. The speaker emphasizes the idea that he is in great shock over the Captain’s
death.
D. The speaker emphasizes the irony that with great victory comes great
tragedy.
Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
Use “Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night,” “Ode to Benjamin Franklin,” and
“O Captain! My Captain!” to answer the following question.
14. You have read three poems that provide different perspectives on a similar theme.
Articulate what theme connects all three poems then explain how each author uses poetic
techniques to convey that theme. Be sure to use evidence from all three texts in your
explanation.
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Introduction to Literature Unit 3 • End of Unit Assessment • 2014-2015
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