Question

Look up runic in a dictionary. In your own words, give at least three definitions of the term. Then review the context of the word's use in "The Bells" and state which meaning Poe most likely intended. Be sure to explain why this definition makes sense in context.









2. Look up tintinnabulation in a dictionary and an etymology dictionary and explain its meaning and history. How does the word affect the tone of this part of the poem?






3. Look up euphony in a dictionary and explain its meaning in your own words. Check the part of speech. Is it a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb? How does the use of this word affect the tone of this part of the poem?






4. In a thesaurus, find several synonyms for clamorous. If one of these words were inserted in place of clamorous in part III of the poem, how would it affect the tone?









5. Look up monody in a dictionary. In your own words, give at least two definitions of the term. Then review the context of the word's use in "The Bells" and state which meaning Poe most likely intended. Be sure to explain why this definition works in context.






6. Look up paean in a dictionary and explain the meaning in your own words. Check the part of speech. Is it a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb? How does the word affect the tone of this part of the poem?






7. Return to the dictionary entry for paean and check the pronunciation guide. Which word rhymes with it?
A. Seein'
B. Layin'
C. Seven
D. Anon
8. Look up ghoul in the dictionary and check the pronunciation guide. Which word rhymes with it?
A. Fowl
B. Awl
C. Hole
D. Tool
9. Choose at least three more difficult words from the poem and look them up in the dictionary. Explain their meanings in your own words, being careful to describe the correct meaning for the context. How do these words affect the meaning of the poem?









10. Look up one of the words from question 9 in an etymology dictionary and describe its history. How does this word affect the meaning of the poem?






11. Find two examples of personification in the poem. Take one example from part I or part II and the other example from part III or part IV. What effect do these uses of personification have on the mood, tone, or themes of the poem?






12. Find two examples of repetition in the poem. Take one example from part I or part II and the other example from part III or part IV. What effect do these uses of repetition have on the mood, tone, or themes of the poem?






13. Find two examples of rhyme in the poem. Take one example from part I or part II and the other example from part III or part IV. What effect do these uses of rhyme have on the mood, tone, or themes of the poem?









14. Find two examples of alliteration in the poem. Take one example from part I or part II and the other example from part III or part IV. What effect do these uses of alliteration have on the mood, tone, or themes of the poem?











15. Find two examples of symbols in the poem. Take one example from part I or part II and the other example from part III or part IV. What effect do these uses of symbols have on the mood, tone, or themes of the poem?

Answer 1

1. Runic: effects, rhythm, decorative objects, sequence.  

In Poe´s poem “The Bells” , Runic refers to  effect, rhythm.

“…Keeping time, time, time,

        In a sort of Runic rhyme,..”

2. Tintinabulation: ringing or pealing of bells. The ringing sound of the bells.

“…To the tintinabulation that so musically wells

      From the bells, bells, bells, bells,..”

3. Euphony: Noun. It is the pleasant combination of sounds in spoken words.

“…How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle,

          In the icy air of night!...”

 

4. Clamorous: Synonyms: noisy, vociferous, loud.

“…How they scream out their affright!

        Too much horrified to speak,

        They can only shriek, shriek,

                 Out of tune,

In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,

If we used for example: noisy, it would not affect the tone.  

“How they scream out their affright!

        Too much horrified to speak,

        They can only shriek, shriek,

                 Out of tune,

In a noisy appealing to the mercy of the fire,..”

5. Monody: a poem in which the poet mourns someone’s death. A monotony sound of tones likes a wave.

“…What tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells!

      In the startled ear of night

      How they scream out their affright!

        Too much horrified to speak,

        They can only shriek, shriek,

                 Out of tune,

In a clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire,…”

6. Paean: It is a noun. It’s an enthusiastic piece of music, writing, or film that expresses praise, admiration, or happiness. It is any of the above mentioned that praises.

“…By the side of the pale-faced moon.

           Oh, the bells, bells, bells!

           What a tale their terror tells

                 Of Despair!

      How they clang, and clash, and roar!

      What a horror they outpour”…

7. According to the dictionary, the option is A. Seein´

8. According to the dictionary, the option is D. Tool

9. Euphony: It is a word that has the quality of being pleasant to the ear.

Alarum: is an old way or term for the word alarm

Throbbing: a beating with regular rhythm, like the beating of the heart.

10. Euphony: “ Origin.Late Middle English: from French euphonie, via late Latin from Greek euphōnia, from euphōnos ‘well sounding’”

Alarum: Old English word

Throbbing:

11 “….By the side of the pale-faced moon….”

Hear the tolling of the bells—

                Iron bells!

…”What a world of solemn thought their monody compels!

       In the silence of the night,

       How we shiver with affright

 At the melancholy menace of their tone!

       For every sound that floats

       From the rust within their throats

                Is a groan…”

The personification gives a more dramatic mood to the poem.

12. “…Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,

           Bells, bells, bells…”—

…”All alone,

       And who tolling, tolling, tolling,

         In that muffled monotone,…”

13. …”While the stars that oversprinkle

       All the heavens, seem to twinkle”

…”For every sound that floats

     From the rust within their throats

                Is a groan….”

       …”And the people—ah, the people—

       They that dwell up in the steeple,…”

14. …”How the danger sinks and swells,

By the sinking or the swelling in the anger of the bells—

            Of the bells—…”

  …” Of the bells, bells, bells, bells,

           Bells, bells, bells—

In the clamor and the clangor of the bells!...”

15.  

 ..”Hear the tolling of the bells—

                Iron bells!..”

Iron: symbol of strength  

…”With a crystalline delight;..”

Cristaline: pure, clean, transparent