Empty Nest

Question

A. Gautam

Just yesterday I watched you in the car seat
Daddy drove five miles per hour for half hour
And my heart jumped at every mild bump on the road
You were home, but you had already been in our hearts
5 Just yesterday you took your wobbly steps
One hand holding mine and another holding daddy’s
In the neighborhood park we watched you run
As the sun set and the moon came
You our star, with sweaty palms and muddy knees
10 Buried us in your embrace
Just yesterday you fell from your bike but rose again
And took off in the cul-de-sac
Every risky turn made my stomach churn
Now you come up to my chin and daddy’s shoulder
15 Our grays as you gain strength but we are weaker, older
I want to sit with you in the back seat
And daddy to drive five miles per hour to your college
Hold you forever before you leave

Question
How is the structure of passage 2 different from the structure of passage 1?
Responses
A Passage 2 uses the speaker to describe the mother’s actions while passage 1 uses the speaker to describe the mother’s qualities.Passage 2 uses the speaker to describe the mother’s actions while passage 1 uses the speaker to describe the mother’s qualities.
B Passage 2 uses form to express feelings about the mother while passage 1 uses free verse to share observations about the child.Passage 2 uses form to express feelings about the mother while passage 1 uses free verse to share observations about the child.
C Passage 2 doesn’t use figurative language to describe the mother while passage 1 uses metaphors in each stanza to describe the mother. Passage 2 doesn’t use figurative language to describe the mother while passage 1 uses metaphors in each stanza to describe the mother.
D Passage 2 uses the speaker to express a tightly knit bond of the mother and child while passage 1 uses the speaker to show only the child’s love.Passage 2 uses the speaker to express a tightly knit bond of the mother and child while passage 1 uses the speaker to show only the child’s love.

Answer 1

The question asks for a comparison of the structures of two passages, specifically examining how they differ in their presentations. However, since only Passage 2 ("Empty Nest" by A. Gautam) is provided, we cannot directly analyze or compare it with Passage 1, which is missing.

Based on the provided options, it seems that they aim to address distinctions surrounding the depiction of a mother and child relationship. Here’s a breakdown of the options in relation to the structure of a hypothetical Passage 1:

A. This option suggests that Passage 1 focuses on the qualities of the mother while Passage 2 centers on her actions. If Passage 1 indeed describes the mother's characteristics rather than actions, it would contrast with the potentially action-oriented focus of Passage 2.

B. This option indicates that Passage 1 employs free verse to communicate observations about the child, whereas Passage 2 utilizes a structured form to express feelings about the mother. The difference in poetic form could represent divergent themes or tones.

C. This option implies that Passage 1 uses figurative language, like metaphors, in contrast to Passage 2, which does not employ figurative language to describe the mother. This could point to a difference in the stylistic approach each passage takes towards depicting their subjects.

D. This option suggests that Passage 2 creates a depiction of a close bond between mother and child, while Passage 1 only conveys the child’s love. This highlights an emotional and relational focus that may differ from Passage 1.

Given the nature of the question, if we had both passages, we would analyze thematic, tonal, and structural elements to determine which response choice accurately describes the difference in structure.

Without Passage 1, the correct answer cannot be definitively identified, but if I were to advise based on Passage 2 alone, I'd encourage you to choose an option that reflects a particular characteristic analyzed within the context of both passages (once known). In a comparative analysis situation like this, having both texts is essential for an accurate assessment.