ENG2613 PORTFOLIO
EXAM ANSWERS 2025
ENG2613 PORTFOLIO EXAM ANSWERS
2025
, ENG 2613 PORTFOLIO EXAM
QUESTION 1: POETRY
1.1) Two reasons the mother gives and why they might worry an adult more
than a child
- They shed. This line points to mess and maintenance (fur getting on furniture,
cleanliness, and potential allergens). Adults often manage housekeeping, allergies,
and grooming costs, so shedding is a practical, grown-up concern that a child might
not worry about as much.
- You have to go back out in ice and snow because the dog has to go. This highlights
the practical burden of walking a dog in bad weather—time, safety, and dealing with
cold or ice. An adult must juggle schedules, safety, and weather, while a child may
see the dog’s needs but not the consequences for daily routines.
1.2) Three lines/images that contribute to the humor and why
- "Mother doesn't want a dog." (refrain) This repeated line creates a playful, singsong
rhythm that frames the poem as a light, humorous argument. The alternation
between adult logic and a child’s persistence is funny.
- "And when you come home late at night / And there is ice and snow, / You have to
go back out because / The dumb dog has to go." This image exaggerates the
inconvenience of dog ownership and shifts responsibility onto the child, using
contrast and hyperbole to generate humor.
- "Because, more than a dog, I think / She will not want this snake." The child’s
dramatic twist—calling the dog a “snake”—creates a surprise reversal. The over-the-
top comparison and the mock-prophetic clothes-pin of the dog as something even
more troublesome add to the comic effect.
EXAM ANSWERS 2025
ENG2613 PORTFOLIO EXAM ANSWERS
2025
, ENG 2613 PORTFOLIO EXAM
QUESTION 1: POETRY
1.1) Two reasons the mother gives and why they might worry an adult more
than a child
- They shed. This line points to mess and maintenance (fur getting on furniture,
cleanliness, and potential allergens). Adults often manage housekeeping, allergies,
and grooming costs, so shedding is a practical, grown-up concern that a child might
not worry about as much.
- You have to go back out in ice and snow because the dog has to go. This highlights
the practical burden of walking a dog in bad weather—time, safety, and dealing with
cold or ice. An adult must juggle schedules, safety, and weather, while a child may
see the dog’s needs but not the consequences for daily routines.
1.2) Three lines/images that contribute to the humor and why
- "Mother doesn't want a dog." (refrain) This repeated line creates a playful, singsong
rhythm that frames the poem as a light, humorous argument. The alternation
between adult logic and a child’s persistence is funny.
- "And when you come home late at night / And there is ice and snow, / You have to
go back out because / The dumb dog has to go." This image exaggerates the
inconvenience of dog ownership and shifts responsibility onto the child, using
contrast and hyperbole to generate humor.
- "Because, more than a dog, I think / She will not want this snake." The child’s
dramatic twist—calling the dog a “snake”—creates a surprise reversal. The over-the-
top comparison and the mock-prophetic clothes-pin of the dog as something even
more troublesome add to the comic effect.
