Revision Library

revisionlibrary.co.uk

11+ · English - Reading (Poetry)

EP.E69 Comprehension: Poetry Set 7

GL ASSESSMENT / CSSE 11+ Entrance English (GL Assessment / CSSE style) · Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

The Lighthouse Keeper

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). Original poem created for 11+ comprehension practice.

The lighthouse stands on granite feet,

A giant with a single eye,

It guides the ships with steady beat

Across the dark and restless sky.

The waves come marching from the deep,

Like soldiers dressed in foaming white,

They crash and roar, then fall asleep,

And melt away before the light.

Old Thomas climbs the worn stone stair

Each evening when the daylight dies,

His lamp a small and shining flare

That never blinks and never lies.

The wind is howling round the tower,

A wolf that scratches at the door,

But steady burns the lantern's power,

A heartbeat on the rocky shore.

When morning finally breaks the night

And gulls come crying, sharp and shrill,

Old Thomas dims his faithful light

And sleeps, while sea and sky are still.

Choose the option that best matches the poem.

(a)What is the poem mainly about?(1)

A) A sailor lost at sea during a storm
B) A lighthouse keeper's watch through a stormy night until calm morning
C) A group of soldiers marching along the coast
D) A wolf hunting near an old tower

(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)

Choose the option that best matches stanza 1.

(a)In stanza 1, how is the lighthouse described?(1)

A) As a small, quiet cottage by the sea
B) As a giant with a single eye
C) As a soldier standing guard
D) As a sleeping animal

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

Find and copy one word from stanza 1 that describes the sky.

(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)

Choose the option closest in meaning to the word as it is used in the poem.

(a)'restless' (stanza 1, line 4) is closest in meaning to:(1)

A) calm and peaceful
B) unable to stay still or settled
C) bright and sunny
D) completely silent

(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 3, line 11: 'His lamp a small and shining flare'. Explain what 'flare' means as it is used here.

(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 1, lines 2 to 3: 'A giant with a single eye, / It guides the ships with steady beat'. Explain the effect of describing the lighthouse in this way.

(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)

Choose the option that best matches stanza 2.

(a)Which literary device is used to compare the waves to soldiers in stanza 2?(1)

A) Simile
B) Onomatopoeia
C) Rhyme
D) Alliteration

(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 2, line 6: 'Like soldiers dressed in foaming white'. Explain the effect of this simile.

(Total for Question 8 is 2 marks)

Find and copy one word from stanza 2 that suggests the waves become calm after crashing.

(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)

Choose the option that best matches stanza 3.

(a)Who is introduced in stanza 3?(1)

A) A sailor lost at sea
B) Old Thomas, the lighthouse keeper
C) A group of gulls
D) A ship's captain

(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 3, line 12: 'That never blinks and never lies'. Explain the effect of this description of the lamp.

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

Find and copy one word from stanza 4 that is an example of onomatopoeia (a word that imitates a sound).

(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 4, line 14: 'A wolf that scratches at the door'. Explain the effect of this metaphor for the wind.

(Total for Question 13 is 2 marks)

Choose the option that best matches stanza 5.

(a)What do the gulls do in stanza 5?(1)

A) They sleep quietly on the rocks
B) They come crying, sharp and shrill
C) They fly silently out to sea
D) They build nests near the tower

(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)

Find and copy the word that appears in both stanza 2 and stanza 5, and which relates to the lighthouse's purpose.

(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 4, line 16: 'A heartbeat on the rocky shore'. Explain the effect of this metaphor.

(Total for Question 16 is 2 marks)

How many stanzas does the poem contain, and how many lines are in each stanza?

(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)

Identify the rhyme scheme used in each stanza of the poem, and support your answer with one example.

(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)

Look at stanza 5, line 20: 'And sleeps, while sea and sky are still'. Identify the alliteration in this line and explain its effect.

(Total for Question 19 is 2 marks)

Explain how the poet uses the structure of the poem to reflect the passing of time, from evening to morning.

(Total for Question 20 is 2 marks)

Explain how the poet builds a sense of safety and reassurance across the whole poem, despite the danger described in stanza 4.

(Total for Question 21 is 3 marks)

Look at stanza 3, line 11: 'His lamp a small and shining flare'. Explain the effect of describing the lamp as 'small' here.

(Total for Question 22 is 2 marks)

Compare the mood created in stanza 2 with the mood created in stanza 5. How does the poet's choice of language create these different moods?

(Total for Question 23 is 3 marks)

According to stanza 5, what does Old Thomas do to the light in the morning?

(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)

How does the poet create a strong feeling of safety and reassurance across the whole poem, despite moments of danger? Refer to the whole poem in your answer.

(Total for Question 25 is 6 marks)

Mark scheme · EP.E69 Comprehension: Poetry Set 7

Question 1

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B) A lighthouse keeper's watch through a stormy night until calm morning

Question 2

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B) As a giant with a single eye

Question 3

B1 'dark' or 'restless' (oe), either single adjective from stanza 1, line 4
Answer: dark (or restless)

Question 4

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B) unable to stay still or settled

Question 5

B1 a bright, sudden burst or flash of light (oe), describing the lamp's strong light
Answer: A bright burst or flash of light.

Question 6

Level 1 (1): Simple identification of the metaphor (comparing the lighthouse to a giant or an eye) with little or no explanation of its effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear identification with a developed explanation of how the phrase makes the lighthouse seem powerful, watchful and protective.
Indicative content:
- 'Giant' suggests the lighthouse is huge, powerful and towering above everything around it
- 'Single eye' suggests the lamp is always watching, like one constant eye keeping guard over the sea
- The phrase 'guides the ships with steady beat' shows this single eye is reliable and protective, actively helping sailors find their way safely

Question 7

(a) B1 A
(a) Answer: A) Simile

Question 8

Level 1 (1): Simple identification of the simile with little or no explanation of its effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear, developed explanation of how the simile makes the waves seem organised, powerful and threatening.
Indicative content:
- Comparing the waves to soldiers suggests they move forward in organised rows, like an army marching
- 'Foaming white' suggests the pale colour of a soldier's uniform, as well as the froth on top of the waves
- Together the simile makes the waves feel powerful, relentless and even threatening, like an advancing force

Question 9

B1 'asleep' (oe), for example 'fall asleep' from stanza 2, line 7
Answer: asleep

Question 10

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B) Old Thomas, the lighthouse keeper

Question 11

Level 1 (1): Simple comment that the lamp is reliable, with little or no explanation of effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear, developed explanation of how the repeated 'never' suggests total reliability and honesty, and how this reflects Old Thomas's own dedication.
Indicative content:
- The repetition of 'never...never' emphasises that the lamp is completely constant and dependable, night after night
- Personifying the lamp as unable to 'lie' gives it a human quality of honesty and trustworthiness
- This reflects Old Thomas's own dedication and reliability as a keeper, since he is the one who tends the lamp every evening

Question 12

B1 'howling' or 'scratches' (oe), either sound word from stanza 4
Answer: howling (or scratches)

Question 13

Level 1 (1): Simple identification of the wind being compared to a wolf, with little or no explanation of effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear, developed explanation of how the comparison makes the wind seem dangerous, wild and threatening, building tension.
Indicative content:
- Comparing the wind to a wolf suggests something wild, dangerous and predatory
- 'Scratches at the door' suggests the wind is trying to get inside, creating a sense of threat just outside the tower
- This builds tension in the poem, contrasting with the safety and steadiness inside the lighthouse

Question 14

(a) B1 B
(a) Answer: B) They come crying, sharp and shrill

Question 15

B1 'light' (oe), found in stanza 2, line 8 ('before the light') and stanza 5, line 19 ('his faithful light')
Answer: light

Question 16

Level 1 (1): Simple identification of the comparison to a heartbeat, with little or no explanation of effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear, developed explanation of how the metaphor makes the lighthouse seem alive, steady and comforting.
Indicative content:
- Comparing the lantern's light to a heartbeat suggests the lighthouse seems alive, almost like a living creature watching over the shore
- A heartbeat is steady and constant, suggesting the lighthouse's light is reliable and unchanging, even during the storm
- This creates a comforting, reassuring feeling, as though the lighthouse itself is protecting the coast

Question 17

B1 5 stanzas of 4 lines each (20 lines in total)
Answer: 5 stanzas of 4 lines each.

Question 18

B1 identifies the ABAB rhyme scheme (the first and third lines rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme) and supports it with an accurate example, such as 'feet' / 'beat' and 'eye' / 'sky' in stanza 1
Answer: ABAB: the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, and the second and fourth lines rhyme, for example 'feet' and 'beat' (A), and 'eye' and 'sky' (B), in stanza 1.

Question 19

Level 1 (1): Correctly identifies the alliteration with little or no explanation of its effect.
Level 2 (2): Correctly identifies the alliteration and clearly explains how it creates a soft, hushed sound that matches the calm ending.
Indicative content:
- The alliteration is the repeated soft 's' sound in 'sleeps', 'sea', 'sky' and 'still'
- This creates a soft, hushed, whispering sound that matches the calm, peaceful mood of the morning
- It contrasts with the harder sounds of stanza 4 ('howling', 'scratches'), showing how the danger of the storm has passed

Question 20

Level 1 (1): Simple comment that the poem moves from evening to morning, with little or no reference to specific stanzas or language.
Level 2 (2): Clear explanation of how at least two stanzas mark different points in time, showing the poem's chronological journey through one night.
Indicative content:
- The poem moves through time in order: evening in stanza 1 ('dark and restless sky') and stanza 3 ('when the daylight dies'), a stormy night in stanza 4, and morning in stanza 5 ('When morning finally breaks the night')
- This chronological structure mirrors a single night of Old Thomas's watch, from dusk until dawn
- The calm ending in stanza 5 returns the poem to stillness, creating a circular shape that suggests this watch happens night after night

Question 21

Level 1 (1): A simple comment that the poem feels safe, with little or no reference to specific stanzas or language.
Level 2 (2): A clear explanation with some reference to specific language, supported by evidence from at least one or two stanzas.
Level 3 (3): A developed explanation tracking the sense of safety across most of the poem, referring closely to evidence from several stanzas, including how danger in stanza 4 makes the final safety feel stronger by contrast.
Indicative content:
- Stanza 1 introduces the lighthouse as a powerful, watchful 'giant' that 'guides the ships with steady beat'
- Stanza 3 shows Old Thomas's dedication ('never blinks and never lies'), suggesting complete reliability
- Stanza 4 introduces danger through the wolf metaphor, but the lantern still burns 'steady' and is compared to 'a heartbeat', showing safety continuing even during the storm
- Stanza 5 ends with total calm ('sea and sky are still'), and the contrast with the storm in stanza 4 makes this final safety feel even more powerful and reassuring

Question 22

Level 1 (1): Simple comment that the lamp is small, with little or no explanation of effect.
Level 2 (2): Clear, developed explanation of the contrast between the lamp's small size and its powerful, important role.
Indicative content:
- Describing the lamp as 'small' contrasts sharply with its huge importance in guiding ships safely
- This contrast suggests that something small can still be powerful and essential
- It reflects the wider idea in the poem that Old Thomas's quiet, humble work has a life-saving effect on sailors at sea

Question 23

Level 1 (1): A simple comment that the moods are different, with little or no reference to specific language.
Level 2 (2): A clear comparison with reference to specific words or phrases from at least one of the two stanzas.
Level 3 (3): A developed comparison referring closely to language from both stanzas, clearly explaining how word choice creates each contrasting mood.
Indicative content:
- Stanza 2 creates a powerful, dramatic mood through words such as 'marching', 'crash', 'roar' and the simile 'soldiers dressed in foaming white'
- Stanza 5 creates a calm, peaceful mood through softer language and especially the alliteration 'sea and sky are still'
- The contrast reflects the wider movement of the poem from a wild, powerful sea to a settled, peaceful morning
- This suggests the lighthouse's role is to help guide the world safely from danger and disturbance towards calm and rest

Question 24

B1 he dims it (oe), for example 'Old Thomas dims his faithful light' from stanza 5, line 19
Answer: He dims it.

Question 25

Level 1 (1-2): Simple, generic comments about safety in the poem with little or no reference to specific language, and little or no reference to more than one stanza.
Level 2 (3-4): Some clear understanding, identifying relevant techniques (such as metaphor, personification or alliteration) with accurate quotation, and explaining their effect with reference to at least two stanzas.
Level 3 (5-6): A sustained, developed response that tracks the feeling of safety across most or all of the poem, integrates well-chosen quotations, explains the effect of specific techniques precisely, and considers how moments of danger (such as the storm in stanza 4) make the poem's overall reassurance feel stronger by contrast.
Indicative content:
- Stanza 1 introduces the lighthouse as a powerful 'giant' that 'guides the ships with steady beat', immediately establishing a protective role
- Stanza 2 shows the waves as a powerful, soldier-like force, but they 'fall asleep' and 'melt away before the light', suggesting the lighthouse's light overcomes even a threatening sea
- Stanza 3 uses the personification 'never blinks and never lies' to show the lamp, and by extension Old Thomas, as completely dependable
- Stanza 4 introduces real danger through the wolf metaphor ('A wolf that scratches at the door'), but the lantern still burns 'steady' and is compared to 'a heartbeat', showing safety continuing even during the storm
- Stanza 5 closes with total calm through the soft alliteration 'sea and sky are still', and this peaceful ending feels even stronger because of the contrast with the danger described in stanza 4
- Overall, the poet uses a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme and steady rhythm across all five stanzas, which itself mirrors the steadiness and reliability at the heart of the poem's message about safety

Comprehension: Poetry Set 7 - Worksheets, Questions and Revision