Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP Prep Practice Exam

What is lyric poetry?

1. Poetry that is about the beauty of nature.

2. Poetry that expresses the feelings of a single speaker.

3. Poetry that tells a story.

4. Poetry that uses vivid imagery.

The correct answer is: Poetry that expresses the feelings of a single speaker.

Lyric poetry is a type of poetry that expresses personal feelings, emotions and thoughts of a single speaker rather than focusing on external subjects like nature or storytelling. The purpose of lyric poetry is to convey emotion and provide insight into the thoughts and experiences of the speaker. This is in contrast to poetry about the beauty of nature (option A), which may not have a specific speaker or personal emotions expressed, and poetry that tells a story (option C), which focuses on events and characters rather than the speaker's feelings. While lyric poetry may also use vivid imagery (option D), its main focus is on personal expression and not just sensory description.