Haunted Palace Quiz
Edgar Allan Poe • Poetry Assessment
The Haunted Palace
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Date:
1 Stanza 1 • Setting
Where is the stately palace located at the start?
A In a dark swamp surrounded by dead trees
B In the greenest valley, guarded by good angels
C On top of a cold and frozen mountain
D Beneath the waves of a stormy ocean
2 Stanza 1 • Characters
Who sits on the throne as ruler of the palace?
A Monarch Thought
B King Sorrow
C Prince Shadow
D Lord Winter
3 Stanza 2 • Imagery
What color are the glorious banners floating on the roof?
A Jet black and ragged
B Blood red and fiery
C Silvery white and pale
D Yellow, glorious, and golden
4 Stanza 3 • Details
Early on, what is seen through the "luminous windows"?
A Armored guards marching in fear
B Flickering candlelight and empty chairs
C Spirits dancing musically to sweet lute tunes
D Monsters trapped behind thick glass
5 Stanza 4 • Sound
What sweet sound flows out from the fair palace door?
A Echoes singing with surpassing beauty
B Thunder roaring across the courtyard
C Whispers plotting against the king
D A church bell tolling for midnight
6 Stanza 5 • Conflict
What happens to ruin the palace's happiness and peace?
A A dragon burns the gardens to the ground
B Evil things in robes of sorrow attack the estate
C The angels decide to abandon the humans
D The monarch chooses to lock all the gates
7 Stanza 6 • Imagery
At the end, what is seen through the "red-litten" windows?
A Peaceful angels sleeping soundly
B Bright flowers blooming in the courtyard
C Vast, ghastly forms moving to discordant tunes
D Empty rooms covered in spotless white dust
8 Stanza 6 • Music
What kind of melody now plays inside the haunted palace?
A A discordant, chaotic, and jarring melody
B A gentle and peaceful lullaby
C A joyful victory march on trumpets
D Complete, silent emptiness
9 Stanza 6 • Climax
What chilling behavior does the crowd at the pale door display?
A They weep and beg travelers for help
B They march silently in heavy chains
C They whisper secret words in the dark
D They laugh wildly, but can smile no more
10 Overall Poem • Mood
How does the poem's mood shift from beginning to end?
A From mysterious and curious to silly and comedic
B From radiant and joyful to dark, terrifying, and haunted
C From angry and noisy to calm, silent, and restful
D From boring and ordinary to thrilling and magical
Haunted Palace Answer Key
Teacher Resource • Rapid Grading
The Haunted Palace — Answer Key
Edgar Allan Poe • 10 Questions • Text Evidence & Allegory Guide
Quick Key 1:B 2:A 3:D 4:C 5:A
6:B 7:C 8:A 9:D 10:B
Answer Matrix:
1: B 2: A 3: D 4: C 5: A 6: B 7: C 8: A 9: D 10: B
Q1 • Palace Setting (Stanza 1) B
B: In the greenest valley, guarded by good angels
Evidence: "In the greenest of our valleys, / By good angels tenanted..."
Q2 • Sovereign Ruler (Stanza 1) A
A: Monarch Thought
Evidence: "In the monarch Thought's dominion, / It stood there!" (The rational mind).
Q3 • Roof Banners (Stanza 2) D
D: Yellow, glorious, and golden
Evidence: "Banners yellow, glorious, golden, / On its roof did float and flow."
Q4 • Early Windows (Stanza 3) C
C: Spirits dancing musically to sweet lute tunes
Evidence: "Through two luminous windows saw / Spirits moving musically..."
Q5 • Palace Door (Stanza 4) A
A: Echoes singing with surpassing beauty
Evidence: "...a troop of Echoes, whose sweet duty / Was but to sing..."
Q6 • Turning Point (Stanza 5) B
B: Evil things in robes of sorrow attack the estate
Evidence: "But evil things, in robes of sorrow, / Assailed the monarch's high estate."
Q7 • Corrupted Windows (Stanza 6) C
C: Vast, ghastly forms moving to discordant tunes
Evidence: "...through the red-litten windows see / Vast forms that move fantastically..."
Q8 • Altered Melody (Stanza 6) A
A: A discordant, chaotic, and jarring melody
Evidence: Forms moving "To a discordant melody," contrasting with the harmonious lute.
Q9 • Joyless Climax (Stanza 6) D
D: They laugh wildly, but can smile no more
Evidence: "...a hideous throng rush out forever, / And laugh—but smile no more."
Q10 • Mood Progression (Overall) B
B: From radiant and joyful to dark, terrifying, and haunted
Evidence: Complete descent from a divine golden haven into ruin and madness.
Teacher Note: The Allegory of the Human Mind
Poe uses the physical palace as an extended metaphor for a brilliant human mind descending into madness:
Radiant Palace A sane, harmonious human mind.
Yellow Banners Golden hair atop the head.
Luminous Windows Bright, healthy eyes seeing truth.
Pearl & Ruby Door Teeth and lips speaking poetry.
Monarch Thought Sovereign rational intellect.
Evil Things Grief, tragedy, or mental breakdown.
Red-Litten Windows Bloodshot eyes clouded by madness.
Hideous Throng Incoherent, manic joyless speech.
The Haunted Palace • Edgar Allan Poe Assessment Resource Grade level: Grades 7–12 Introductory Reading • 10 Questions
