I LOVE THEE - KCSE ENGLISH POETRY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow. ​

I LOVE THEE

I love thee,as I love the calm
Of sweet,star-lighted hours
I love thee,as I love the balm
Of early jasmine flowers
I love thee,as I love thee last
Rich smile of fading day
Which lingereth,like the look we cast
On rapture passed away
I love thee as I love as I love the tone
Of some soft breathing flute
Whose soul is woken for me alone
When all beside is mute
I love thee as I love the first
Young violet of the spring
Or the pale lily,April nursed
To scented blossoming.
(By Eliza Acton)…………………………………….

QUESTIONS

• a) Identify the persona in the poem. (2 marks)
• b) What is the poem talking about? (4marks)
• c) List four  pairs of rhyming words from the above poem. (4 marks)
• d) Who is the poet of the above poem? (2marks)
• e) Identify any instance of repetition. (2 marks)
• f) Who is referred to as “thee” in the poem? Explain your answer (3marks)

ANSWERS

• (a)The persona is a lover(1mark).Addressing his/her love.(1mark)
• (b)The poem is talking about love. The speaker compares his/her love for his love with various things(4marks)e.g star lighted hours, jasmine flowers, etc
• (c)-calm-balm, last-cast,tone-lone,hours-flowers,first-nursed,spring blossoming(any four pairs-4marks)
• (d)Eliza Acton(2marks)
• (e)I love thee,as I love…..(2marks)
• (f)The persona’s love interest(2marks) Explanation: because that is the subject matter(1mk) total 3mks

​Identify words that are pronounced almost the same way as the words below(5marks)

• a) Shore………………………………………………………………………………
• b) Heal………………………………………………………………………………..
• c) Sale…………………………………………………………………………………
• d) Ewe………………………………………………………………………………...
• e) Waste…………………………………………

ANSWERS

• (a)-show(1mark)
• (b)-heel(1mark)
• (c)-sail(1mark)
• (d)-you(1mark)
• (e)-waist(1mark)

( any other relevant answer) total 5mks

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