(05.02 MC)

Question

Read the poem "Mother" by Lola Ridge. Then, answer the question that follows.

Your love was like moonlight
turning harsh things to beauty,
so that little wry souls
reflecting each other obliquely
as in cracked mirrors ...
beheld in your luminous spirit
their own reflection,
transfigured as in a shining stream,
and loved you for what they are not.

You are less an image in my mind
than a luster
I see you in gleams
pale as star-light on a gray wall ...
evanescent as the reflection of a white swan
shimmering in broken water.

How does the figurative language used in the poem relate to the title?

The figurative language describes a mother and a child who are no longer connected.
The figurative language expresses a mother's wish that her child grow into a lovely swan.
The figurative language illustrates how bad memories have a way of slowly disappearing over time.
The figurative language paints a picture of the way a mother helps a child see their potential.
Question 3 (Matching Worth 4 points)
(05.02 LC)

Match each definition to the term it represents.

Match Term Definition
An exaggeration for effect A) Hyperbole
A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as" B) Alliteration
A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as" C) Simile
The repetition of beginning sounds in words in a line of poetry D) Metaphor
Question 4(Multiple Choice Worth 2 points)
(05.02 MC)

Read the poem "Mother" by Lola Ridge. Then, answer the question that follows.

Your love was like moonlight
turning harsh things to beauty,
so that little wry souls
reflecting each other obliquely
as in cracked mirrors ...
beheld in your luminous spirit
their own reflection,
transfigured as in a shining stream,
and loved you for what they are not.

You are less an image in my mind
than a luster
I see you in gleams
pale as star-light on a gray wall ...
evanescent as the reflection of a white swan
shimmering in broken water.

Based on the figurative language in the bolded lines, the tone of the poem would best be expressed as

admiration
disapproval
happiness
rejection
Question 5 (Essay Worth 10 points)
(05.02 HC)

Read the poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes. Then, answer the question that follows.

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

In a paragraph of four or five sentences, explain how the theme of "Mother to Son" is developed through figurative language. Your response should

state the theme in a complete sentence
provide examples of figurative language from the text that support the theme
explain how your examples of figurative language relate to the theme

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FDK231.12

Answer 1

Question 2

How does the figurative language used in the poem relate to the title?

The figurative language paints a picture of the way a mother helps a child see their potential.

Question 3

Match each definition to the term it represents.

| Match | Term | Definition | |-------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | A | Hyperbole | An exaggeration for effect | | D | Metaphor | A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as" | | C | Simile | A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as" | | B | Alliteration | The repetition of beginning sounds in words in a line of poetry |

Question 4

Based on the figurative language in the bolded lines, the tone of the poem would best be expressed as:

admiration

Question 5

Explain how the theme of "Mother to Son" is developed through figurative language.

The theme of "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes conveys the idea that life is a challenging journey filled with obstacles, yet perseverance is essential. Hughes employs imagery and metaphor to illustrate this theme, particularly through the metaphor of life as a staircase that is not "crystal" but fraught with difficulties such as "tacks," "splinters," and "boards torn up." This vivid imagery suggests that life's path is not smooth and beautiful, but instead requires strength and resilience. By urging the son not to "turn back" or "set down on the steps," the figurative language reinforces the message that despite hardships, one must continue to climb and push forward, mirroring the struggles of many individuals throughout life.