By Elimu Assistant Team 
Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.
Why do sinners’ way prosper? and why must
Disappointment all I endeavour end?
Wert thou my enemy O thou my friend
How wouldst thou worse, I wonder, than thou dost
Defeat, thwart me? Oh, the sots and thralls of lust
Do spare hours more thrive than, that spend,
Sir, life upon thy cause. See, banks and breaks
Now, leavèd how thick! lacèd they are again
With fretty cherril, look, and fresh wind shakes
Them; birds build – but not I build; no, but strain,
Time’s enough, and not breed one work that wakes.
Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.
Questions
(i) Identify four
examples of assonance in the poem.
(2mks)
(ii) Write out and describe the rhyme
scheme of the poem. (2mks)
(iii) How would you perform the last line
of the poem? (2mks)
(iv) Indicate whether the following lines
in the poem would be said with a falling or rising intonation. (2mks)
a) Why do
sinners’ way prosper? ..…
b)
Disappointment all I endeavor end? …
Answers
(i) Identify four examples of assonance in the poem. (2mks)
- deed, if
- but, just
- endeavour, end
- wonder, dost
- (any other answer) (4 x ½ = 2mks)
(ii) Write out and describe the rhyme scheme of the poem. (2mks)
- abba abba cd cd cd – Regular rhyme scheme
(iii) How would you perform the last line of the poem? (2mks)
- I would kneel and raise my eyes, use a low, prayerful tone to capture the essence of prayer. (Any other appropriate verbal + non verbal cue).
(iv) Indicate whether the following lines in the poem would be said with a falling or rising intonation. (2mks)
- Why do sinners way prosper? Falling intonation
- Disappointment all I endeavor end? Rising intonation
