Question

Read the poem.

excerpt from "Paul Revere's Ride"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Paul Revere was an express rider who, on April 18, 1775, was charged with delivering a message and alerting communities about the approaching British troops.

So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry of alarm
To every Middlesex village and farm,—
A cry of defiance and not of fear,
A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door,
And a word that shall echo forevermore!
For, borne on the night-wind of the Past,
Through all our history, to the last,
In the hour of darkness and peril and need,
The people will awaken and listen to hear
The hurrying hoof-beats of that steed,
And the midnight message of Paul Revere.

Question
What does the rhyme scheme and rhythm of this stanza add to the meaning of the poem?

Responses

It creates a proud and patriotic tone.

It gives important background information.

It highlights the main character of the poem.

It creates an eerie, suspenseful mood.



Which line best conveys the anxiety and tension present in these stanzas?

Responses

"The fate of a nation was riding that night;"

"And beneath him, tranquil and broad and deep,"

"Now soft on the sand, now loud on the ledge,"

"He has left the village and mounted the steep,"

Answer 1

The rhyme scheme and rhythm of this stanza contribute to creating an energetic and urgent mood in the poem.

Regarding the second question, the line that best conveys the anxiety and tension present in these stanzas is: "The fate of a nation was riding that night;"

The regular rhyme scheme (ABABCC) and the steady rhythm of the poem reflect the urgency and determination of Paul Revere's ride. The use of rhyme, such as "alarm" and "farm," "fear" and "door," adds a sense of continuity and purpose to the narrative.

This line suggests the gravity of the situation and the immense responsibility that Paul Revere carries as he rides through the night to warn about the approaching British troops. It emphasizes the high stakes and the critical role that Revere plays in the larger context of the nation's fate.