Loveliest of Trees Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. Why do you think the speaker describes a cherry tree? Why not a different tree?
  2. If you were going to rewrite this poem, what would you use in place of the cherry tree (assuming you had to pick something else)?
  3. Is the speaker a little young to be thinking so far ahead into the future? Why or why not?
  4. What effect does the regular, simple rhyme have on your reading of the poem?
  5. Ultimately, do you find this poem uplifting or depressing? What parts of the poem support your answer?