Keats’s Cascades

Worksheet Description

This worksheet focuses on the poem “Endymion” by John Keats, providing an excerpt for students to analyze the use of enjambment. Students are instructed to read the poem and identify lines that employ enjambment by circling the line numbers. This task helps students to visually and analytically discern where the poet has chosen to let a thought run over from one line to the next without a terminating punctuation mark. The exercise is not only an exploration of a famous literary work but also a practical application of identifying poetic techniques.

The worksheet is teaching students to recognize enjambment, a key poetic device that affects the rhythm and flow of poetry. By having students look for instances where thoughts and sentences continue beyond the line breaks, the activity emphasizes the importance of structure in poetry. This exercise also provides an opportunity for students to engage with classic poetry, thereby enhancing their literary appreciation. Additionally, it allows students to practice close reading skills and to understand how poets craft their work to guide the reader’s experience.