OPPORTUNITY by Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)
HIS I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:--
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, "Had I a sword of keener steel--
That blue blade that the king's son bears, -- but this
Blunt thing--!" he snapped and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout
Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.

"Opportunity" is reprinted from The Little Book of American Poets: 1787-1900. Ed. Jessie B. Rittenhouse. Cambridge: Riverside Press, 1915.

Directions: Answer all of the following questions in the boxes on the next page by writing as much as possible. Make sure to use TWO KEY WORDS (provided in bold below) in your answers.

What is this poem about on the surface? What is the hidden or true meaning of the poem?

What is the writer’s TONE in the poem? Why does he use this tone? Use at least TWO of these KEY WORDS in your critical, direct, inspirational, ironic, mocking

How does this poem relate to your own life? Use at least TWO of these KEY WORDS in your claims, suggests, underscores, affirms, mirrors, reflects, depicts
Type your answers in the boxes below.

What is the poem about or the literal meaning? What is the figurative (hidden or deeper) meaning of the poem?

What is the writer’s TONE in the poem? Why does he use this tone? Use at least TWO of these KEY WORDS in your critical, direct, inspirational, ironic, mocking

How could this poem relate to your own life? Use at least TWO of these KEY WORDS in your claims, suggests, underscores, affirms, mirrors, reflects, depicts