1. The Wreck of the Hesperus by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Review

2. 1. According to the speaker, what happened to the ship, the skipper, and the skipper’s young daughter?
The ship broke up and sank on the reef of Norman’s Woe and both the skipper and his daughter died.

3. 2. What is the central conflict in the plot
2. What is the central conflict in the plot ? How is the conflict resolved?
Humans vs. nature
It’s resolved when nature wins. The storm kills both the captain and the girl and wrecks their ship.

4. 3. What is the skipper’s attitude toward nature
3. What is the skipper’s attitude toward nature? How does his attitude contrast with that of the old sailor?
The skipper feels superior to nature (“I can weather the roughest gale.”)
The old sailor respects nature’s power.

5. 4. What is a narrative poem?
It tells a story.
It usually includes a setting, some characters, and a plot.
The events are often told in chronological order, the order in which they happen.
The theme unfolds as the story is told.

6. 5. What kind of storm was the old sailor fearful of?
A hurricane.

7. 6. Why does the skipper reject the old sailor’s warning about a storm?
He thinks he is too skillful to have difficulties.

8. 7. What is the main character flaw of the skipper?
Too much pride.

9. 8. How does the little girl feel after her father dies
8. How does the little girl feel after her father dies? What does she hope?
Alone in the storm, she’s terrified and prays that the waters will be stilled.

10. 9. What does the fisherman see at daybreak? Explain.
He discovers the girl’s body lashed to the mast.
She is frozen, salt tears in her eyes, and her hair was like brown seaweed that fell and rose with the movement of the sea.

11. 10. Describe the setting.
The coast of New England on a cold winter night on a ship at sea during a storm.

12. 11. Describe the plot.
The tale of a shipwreck.

13. 12. Describe the characters.
Skipper
Daughter
Crew
Old sailor
Fisherman

14. 13. Example of a simile. Eyes as the fairy-flax
Cheeks like the dawn of day
Billows frothed like yeast
Like a sheeted ghost, the vessel swept

15. 14. Example of onomatopoeia.
The snow fell hissing in the brine
Whistling sleet and snow

16. 15. Example of personification.
The cruel rocks gored her side.

17. 16. Example of repetition. “O father!” “Oh say, what may it be?”
“Come hither!”

18. 17. Example of alliteration.
Stiff and stark
Dark and drear

19. Plot Chart Climax Rising Action Falling Action Exposition Resolution
The daughter’s confrontation with death.
The father dies.
A storm arises.
The ship wrecks.
Rising Action
The old sailor warns of a hurricane.
Falling Action
Exposition
Resolution
Conflict
Humans vs Nature
The skipper and the daughter are on a ship at sea on a cold, winter night off the coast of New England during a winter storm.
The fisherman discovers the girl’s body.