Question

The full September 1] moon sheds floods of light, And all the bayouư's face is gemmed with stars, Save where are dropped fantastic shadows down From sycamores and moss-hung cypress trees. [5] With slumberous sound the waters half asleep Creep on and on their way, 'twixt rankish reeds, Through marsh and lowlands stretching to the Gulf. Begirt 2 with cotton fields, Anguilla 3 sits Half bird-like, dreaming on her Summer nest. [10] Amid her spreading figs and roses, still In bloom with all their Spring and Summer hues, Pomegranates hang with dapple 4 cheeks full ripe, And over all the town a dreamy haze Drops down. The great plantations, stretching far [15] Away, are plains of cotton, downy white. Or, glorious is this night of joyous sounds; Too full for sleep. Aromas wild and sweet, From muscadine, 5 late blooming jessamine, And roses, all the heavy air suffuse. (20] Faint bellows from the alligators come From swamps afar, where sluggish lagoons give To them a peaceful home. The katydids 6 Make ceaseless cries. Ten thousand insects' Stir in the moonlight haze and joyous shouts [25] Of Negro song and mirth awake hard by The cabin dance. Or, glorious is this night! The Summer sweetness fills my heart with songs I cannot sing, with loves I cannot speak.

PART A: What does the speaker's description of the 1. setting reveal about Anguilla? A The speaker describes Anguilla as only superficially beautiful, overlooking its history of cotton plantations. BThe speaker describes Anguilla as infested with various forms of wildlife, suggesting that it is difficult to live there. C The speaker describes Anguilla as a drowsy, listless bayou, suggesting it is a dull town. D The speaker describes the sounds, sights, and wildlife of Anguilla, showing its abundance of overwhelming beauty.


PART B: Which piece of evidence from the poem best 2. supports your response to Part A? A "With slumberous sound the waters half asleep / Creep on and on their way, 'twixt rankish reeds, Through marsh and lowlands stretching to the Gulf." (Lines 5-7) B "The great plantations, stretching far / Away, are plains of cotton, downy white" (Lines 14-15) O c "0, glorious is this night of joyous sounds; / Too full for sleep. Aromas wild and sweet, / From muscadine, late blooming jessamine, / And roses, all the heavy air suffuse. " (Lines 16-19) D "Faint bellows from the alligators come / From


As used in line 21, what does the word "sluggish" 3. mean? A disturbed B indifferent c drowsy OD slimy


4. What do lines 27-28 reveal about the speaker's point of view? A The speaker feels excluded from the natural beauty of the bayou. B The speaker is speechless in awe of the bayou. c The speaker does not feel worthy of the bayou. D The speaker is not allowed to sing or speak about the bayou.


5. Explain how the poem uses personification to describe the bayou in Anguilla. What effect does personification have on the meaning of the poem? Cite evidence from the text in your answer.

Answer 1

The description of Anguilla suggests an abundance of natural beauty, not a superficial or dull place. The poem uses personification to animate the bayou, deepening the reader's emotional engagement with the setting. The speaker is in awe, too moved to fully articulate their feelings.

Step-by-step explanation:

The speaker's description of Anguilla reveals a setting filled with overwhelming beauty. The surroundings are described with vivid imagery that brings to life the lush and lively natural scene. The mention of fantastic shadows, pomegranates hang with dapple cheeks, and the joyous shouts of song and dance evoke a rich sensory experience. Phrases such as "dreamy haze" and mentioning the "aromas wild and sweet" suggest an almost magical quality to the place. The effect is overwhelmingly positive, depicting Anguilla as a place of natural splendor and vibrant life, rather than dull or superficially beautiful.

When discussing the meaning of the word "sluggish" as used in line 21 of the passage, it means drowsy or slow-moving. This reflects the languid, peaceful setting being described.

Lines 27-28 reveal that the speaker's point of view is one of speechless awe at the bayou's beauty. The phrase "fills my heart with songs I cannot sing" indicates an emotional overflow that cannot be adequately expressed, underlining the profound impact of the setting on the speaker.

The poem uses personification to describe the bayou in Anguilla by attributing human qualities to natural elements, such as describing the waters as "half asleep" and the bayou's face as "gemmed with stars." This literary device makes the setting feel more alive and responsive, enhancing the reader's emotional connection to the landscape. It creates a vivid and dynamic image of the bayou, which becomes not just a backdrop but an active participant in the scene.

Answer 2

PART A

1. D. The speaker describes the sounds, sights, and wildlife of Anguilla, showing its abundance of overwhelming beauty.

PART B

2. C. "0, glorious is this night of joyous sounds; / Too full for sleep. Aromas wild and sweet, / From muscadine, late blooming jessamine, / And roses, all the heavy air suffuse."

3. C. Drowsy

4. B. The speaker is speechless in awe of the bayou.

5. The poem used personification to describe the bayou's "face" in Anguilla as "gemmed with stars".

This description gives the impression that the bayou is a living thing having a face (the surface) that is reflecting the stars above it.

impression that the bayou is a living thing having a face (the surface) that is reflecting the stars above it. The waters were described as "half asleep" and "creep on and on their way", this personification describes the waters as peaceful and slow-moving.

Personification had the effect of giving the meaning of the poem the appearance of having a life that is at the same time calm and full of exciting beauty, as evidenced in the line "Anguilla sits Half bird-like, dreaming on her Summer nest. Amid her spreading figs and roses, still In bloom with all their Spring and Summer hues, Pomegranates hang with dapple 4 cheeks full ripe, And over all the town a dreamy haze Drops down."

Step-by-step explanation:

This poem is called "A September Night" by George Marion McClellan. In it he describes a night at the bayou in Anguilla as being calm, peaceful and full of beautiful sights and sounds. He also shows joy in his people as mentioned in the line "joyous shouts/of Negro songs and mirth awake hard by/The cabin dance".

He used personification in his description of the night in the bayou, which served to give the impression of the place being a living thing.