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

To accurately answer the question about the difference in structure between passage 1 and passage 2, we first need to analyze the elements of both passages.

Since the content of passage 1 is not provided here, we can only infer information about its general structure based on the options given.

When examining the options:

• Option A discusses the focus on actions versus qualities, which requires knowledge of both passages' content.
• Option B compares the use of form in relation to feelings and observations, hinting that passage 1 might be more observational.
• Option C refers to the use of figurative language, indicating passage 1 possibly employs more imagery or metaphors.
• Option D talks about the bond between mother and child versus only showing the child's love, suggesting deeper emotional themes in both passages.

Based on the nature of poems and the provided second passage, which is reflective and expresses emotional themes about growing up and the bittersweet nature of parenting, Option D seems to imply a significant emotional and thematic difference in structure; passage 2 emphasizes the bond between mother and child.

The best response, given the intent to express a bond as opposed to just the child's love seems to be:

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.