The poem 'Break, Break, Break' by Lord Alfred Tennyson is about his feelings of sadness and longing after his friend Arthur Hallam's death. The poem starts with a clear picture of sea waves hitting cold, gray stones. The repeated word 'break' .....
Break, Break, Break - New Oxford Modern English - Class 5 - English
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Back Exercises - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 5
In your notebook, write the meaning for each word in the following pairs.
a. write/right
b. steal/steel
c. wait/weight
d. hole/whole
e. peace/piece
f. feet/feat
a. write - to put words or symbols on paper or another surface using a pen or pencil
right - correct or morally good
b. steal - to take something dishonestly without permission
steel - a strong, hard, and durable metal alloy
c. wait - to stay in a place until something expected happens
weight - the amount or measure of how heavy something is
d. hole - an opening or hollow space in something
whole - complete or entire
e. peace - a state of tranquility or absence of conflict
piece - a portion or part of something
f. feet - the lower part of the human leg, below the ankle
feat - an impressive achievement or action
Write two meanings for each of the following.
a. break
b. utter
c. play
d. bay
e. tender
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Sign up nowWhich of the following are phrases and which are clauses?
a few bananas
as they came into the room
jumping from the tree
waiting to see
the egg which was stolen
as he stopped talking
a rainy day
when she saw her father
eating ten apples
the letter I received
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Sign up nowWrite in your own words, and in prose, what the poet is saying in the poem. This is called paraphrasing. You can begin like this:
O Sea, your waves keep breaking over the cold grey stones on the shore. I wish I was able to….
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Sign up nowBack Questions - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 5
Who is the poet addressing in the first stanza?
In the first stanza of the poem, the poet is addressing the Sea.
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Why cannot the poet say what is on his mind?
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Sign up nowWhat does the poet wish for in the third stanza?
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Sign up nowIs the poem a happy one or a sad one? Give reason for your answer.
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Sign up nowWhy do you think the poet uses the sea, and the waves especially, to contrast with the feelings that he has?
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Sign up nowAnd I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
a. What does and I would mean?
b. What thoughts does the poet wish to utter?
c. Who does the poet mention after this, and why?
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Sign up nowExtra Questions - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Literature | English | Class 5
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
What emotions and thoughts does the speaker wish to express?
What is the speaker's tone and mood in this stanza?
How does the repetition of the word "break" contribute to the overall theme and mood of the poem?
What kind of imagery is the phrase "cold gray stones, O Sea" trying to create?
What does the "sea" symbolize in this stanza?
What poetic device is used in "I would that my tongue could utter"?
Break, break, break,
On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
And I would that my tongue could utter
The thoughts that arise in me.
What emotions and thoughts does the speaker wish to express?
What is the speaker's tone and mood in this stanza?
How does the repetition of the word "break" contribute to the overall theme and mood of the poem?
What kind of imagery is the phrase "cold gray stones, O Sea" trying to create?
What does the "sea" symbolize in this stanza?
What poetic device is used in "I would that my tongue could utter"?
The speaker wishes to express his grief and longing for a lost friend. He has a deep sadness that he struggles to articulate and yearns for something that is forever lost.
The tone of this stanza is despairing and mournful, and the mood is sombre and melancholic, reflecting the speaker's inner turmoil.
The repetition of the word "break" contributes to the overall theme and mood by emphasizing the speaker's grief and hopelessness. It is an instance of the poetic device anaphora, where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses.
The phrase "cold gray stones, O Sea" creates an imagery of the immense, cold, and unforgiving sea. It sets a bleak and melancholic atmosphere that parallels the speaker's feelings of loss and desolation.
The "sea" in this stanza can be seen as a symbol of both the overwhelming, cruel force of nature and the depth of the speaker's emotional struggle.
The statement "I would that my tongue could utter" uses the poetic device of personification. The speaker gives his tongue a human quality – the ability to express his deepest emotions, thereby emphasizing his frustration at not being able to fully express his feelings.
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‘O well for the fisherman’s boy,
That e shouts with his sister at play!
O well for the sailor lad,
That he signs in his boat on the bay!
What is all right for the two boys?
Why does he call it all right?
Why does he talk about them?
How does the joy of the fisherman's boy and the sailor lad contrast with the overall mood of the poem?
Does Tennyson use any figurative language in this stanza? If so, how does it contribute to the stanza's overall meaning?
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Sign up nowWhat is the thing that will never return?
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Sign up nowBreak Break Break Quiz - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
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About the Poet - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809 – 1892) is considered one of the greatest English poets of the Victorian era. Born in Lincolnshire, Tennyson was largely self-educated and began writing poetry at a young age. He was selected Poet Laureate in 1850, succeeding William Wordsworth. His poetry reflected the major issues of his time, including social change and scientific progression. One of his most popular poems, 'Break, Break, Break,' is well-known for its themes of loss and longing, expressing Tennyson's deep grief over the loss of his close friend, Arthur Hallam. Despite facing financial struggle and personal loss, Tennyson's work was well-received, and he remained a popular poet even after his death. His ability to touch upon universal themes and human conditions in his poetry contributed to his lasting impact on English literature.
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Unlock now 🔓Themes - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Sadness and Loss: The main theme of 'Break, Break, Break' is sadness and loss, especially Tennyson's grief after losing his close friend, Arthur Hallam. Tennyson's feelings are strongly connected to the image of the breaking sea .....
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Several symbols are used in 'Break, Break, Break' by Lord Alfred Tennyson to convey various themes and emotions within the poem:
Sea: The endless, breaking sea waves...
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Lord Alfred Tennyson employs several poetic devices in ‘Break, Break, Break’ to enhance the emotional depth of the poem:
Alliteration: The repetition of the initial consonant sounds is used to add rhythm and musicality to the poem. For example, 'Break....
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Break, Break, Break | New Oxford Modern English | Class 5 Literature | English
Haven: a small port
After a long sea voyage, the ship finally reached a small haven, providing the sailors a much-needed break from the tumultuous ocean waves.A day that is dead: a day that is gone
The sun had set, stars peppered the sky, and as the moon shone brightly, it was clear that the vibrant day was now dead, giving way to the stillness of the night.
Utter: To express something by speaking out loud.
He was too ....................
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