Modern Poetry - Carol Ann Duffy: Sports Themed Analysis

English
Grade 8
9 questions
~18 mins
1 views0 downloads

About This Worksheet

A comprehension worksheet analyzing Carol Ann Duffy's poetry with a focus on sports themes, designed for Grade 8 students.

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Modern Poetry - Carol Ann Duffy: Sports Themed Analysis

Subject: EnglishGrade: Grade 8
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Grade Grade 8
A

Reading Passage: 'The Runner's Dream' by Carol Ann Duffy

In the early dawn, the track lies silent, waiting for the first light of dawn. A lone runner, breath steady, muscles taut, prepares to race against the rising sun. Every stride echoes with the hopes of victory, the pain of struggle, and the fleeting nature of time. The wind whispers past, urging, challenging the distance ahead. Behind, the world is still; ahead, the promise of fleeting glory beckons. The runner's heart pounds like a drum, echoing the rhythm of determination. Sweat beads form, tracing paths of effort across a face set with focus. The starting gun fires, a flash of sound, releasing the runner into the unknown, chasing the horizon that shifts with every mile. The finish line waits, a symbol of dreams chased and ambitions fulfilled or lost in the wind. This moment—a perfect collision of effort and aspiration—captures the spirit of sport as a test of endurance and will.
1.
Identify two poetic devices used in the passage and explain their effect.
[3 marks]
2.
What is the significance of the 'starting gun' in the context of the poem?
[2 marks]
3.
Describe how the poet uses imagery to depict the runner's mental state.
[5 marks]
4.
Identify one line that reflects the theme of perseverance and explain your choice.
[3 marks]
5.
How does the poet's use of enjambment contribute to the poem's sense of movement?
[3 marks]
6.
Analyze how the imagery in the poem conveys the fleeting nature of success in sports.
[5 marks]
7.
Create a short poem (8-10 lines) inspired by the themes of perseverance and sports, using vivid imagery.
[5 marks]
8.
List the qualities a runner must have to succeed, as implied by the poem.
[3 marks]
9.
Reflect on how the poem portrays the relationship between effort and reward in sports.
[5 marks]

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Created
12/31/2025
Updated
12/31/2025
Type
worksheet