Question

1. for the poem below, complete the following:

a. number each line on the left.
b. label each stanza as quatrain 1, etc.
c. label the last two lines with their name
d. write the rhyme scheme out to the right side of each line.
e. label the rhythm of each line using stressed and unstressed marks.
f. label the volta
g. at the end of the poem, summarize each quatrain and explain the change that happens at the volta. how does the poem end?
the cats - by lucy allen
1 the cat next door had piercing eyes of green
2 his fluffy coat was streaked with black and white.
3 he crept and prowled about, he moved unseen,
4 he hid himself cloaked in the dark of night.
5 but someone noticed him as he lurked there,
6 another creature who had caught his scent,
7 their ears pricked up and on end stood their hair
8 and quickly out towards the grass they went.
9 the cat lay low beside the red brick wall
10 and heard the sound of padding paws nearby,
11 so bravely twards the creature did he crawl,
12 and what great vision there should greet his eye?
13 its only spot, his friend and not a foe,
14 so off into the night the pair do go.

Explanation:

• a. Numbering lines: Lines are numbered from 1 - 14 as per the given poem.
• b. Stanza labeling:
• Quatrain 1: Lines 1 - 4
• Quatrain 2: Lines 5 - 8
• Quatrain 3: Lines 9 - 12
• Couplet (last two lines): Lines 13 - 14
• c. Rhythm (stressed and unstressed marks):
• Line 1: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (The cat next door had piercing eyes of green)
• Line 2: Stressed / Unstressed U Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (His fluffy coat was streaked with black and white)
• Line 3: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (He crept and prowled about, he moved unseen)
• Line 4: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (He hid himself cloaked in the dark of night)
• Line 5: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (But someone noticed him as he lurked there)
• Line 6: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (Another creature who had caught his scent)
• Line 7: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (Their ears pricked up and on end stood their hair)
• Line 8: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (And quickly out towards the grass they went)
• Line 9: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (The cat lay low beside the red brick wall)
• Line 10: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (And heard the sound of padding paws nearby)
• Line 11: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (So bravely t'wards the creature did he crawl)
• Line 12: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (And what great vision there should greet his eye)
• Line 13: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (It's only Spot, his friend and not a foe)
• Line 14: Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / Unstressed U Stressed / (So off into the night the pair do go)
• d. Rhyme scheme:
• Quatrain 1: A (green), B (white), A (unseen), B (night)
• Quatrain 2: C (there), D (scent), C (hair), D (went)
• Quatrain 3: E (wall), F (nearby), E (crawl), F (eye)
• Couplet: G (foe), G (go)
• e. Volta: The volta (turn) occurs between line 12 and line 13. The cat is approaching what it thinks is a threat (built - up in quatrains 1 - 3), and then there is a shift.
• f. Summarizing quatrains and explaining volta change:
• Quatrain 1: Describes a cat (with green eyes, black - and - white coat) that is sneaking around at night.
• Quatrain 2: Another creature notices the cat, and they (the other creatures) move towards the grass.
• Quatrain 3: The cat hears the approaching creature and crawls towards it, wondering what it will see.
• At the volta (line 13), instead of a threat, it is revealed to be the cat's friend Spot.
• g. Poem ending: The poem ends with the cat (and Spot) going off into the night together, resolving the earlier tension (of potential conflict) into a friendly outcome.

Answer:

• a. Lines are numbered 1 - 14 as in the given poem.
• b. Quatrain 1 (Lines 1 - 4), Quatrain 2 (Lines 5 - 8), Quatrain 3 (Lines 9 - 12), Couplet (Lines 13 - 14).
• c. Rhythm marks as detailed above for each line.
• d. Rhyme scheme: Quatrain 1 - ABAB; Quatrain 2 - CDCD; Quatrain 3 - EFEF; Couplet - GG.
• e. Volta between line 12 and 13.
• f. Quatrain 1: Cat's appearance and night - time sneaking. Quatrain 2: Another creature's reaction. Quatrain 3: Cat's response to approaching sound. Volta: Change from potential threat to friendly encounter.
• g. Ends with cat and Spot going off into the night as friends.