which of the following describe the father and son's relationship in lines 1-10?

Question

As a boy I shared a game with my father.

Played it every morning ‘til I was 3.
He would knock knock on my door
and I’d pretend to be asleep
‘til he got right next to the bed.
Then I would get up and jump into his arms.
“Good morning, Papa.”
And my papa he would tell me that he loved
me.
We shared a game.
Knock Knock.

Until that day when the knock never came
and my momma takes me on a ride past corn
fields
on this never ending highway ‘til we reach a place of high
rusty gates.
A confused little boy,
I entered the building carried in my mama’s arms.
Knock Knock.
We reach a room of windows and brown faces.
Behind one of the windows sits my father.
I jump out of my mama’s arms
and run joyously towards my papa's
only to be confronted by this window.
I knock knock trying to break through the glass,
trying to get to my father.
I knock knock as my mama pulls me away
before my papa even says a word.
And for years he has never said a word.
And so twenty-five years later, I write these words
for the little boy in me who still awaits his papa’s knock.

Papa, come home cause I miss you.
I miss you waking me up in the morning and telling me you love me.
Papa, come home, cause there’s things I don’t know
and I thought maybe you could teach me:
how to shave;
how to dribble a ball;
how to talk to a lady;
how to walk like a man.
Papa, come home because I decided a while back
I wanted to be just like you.
But I’m forgetting who you are.
And twenty-five years later a little boy cries,
and so I write these words and try to heal
and try to father myself
and I dream up a father who says the words my father did not.

Dear Son,
I’m sorry I never came home.
For every lesson I failed to teach, hear these words:
Shave in one direction in strong deliberate strokes to avoid irritation.
Dribble the page with the brilliance of your ballpoint pen.
Walk like a god and your goddess will come to you.
No longer will I be there to knock on your door.
So you must learn to knock for yourself.
Knock knock down doors of racism and poverty that I could not.
Knock knock down doors of opportunity
for the lost brilliance of the black men who crowd these cells.
Knock knock with diligence for the sake of your children.
Knock knock for me for as long as you are free,
these prison gates cannot contain my spirit.
The best of me still lives in you.
Knock knock with the knowledge that you are my son, but you are not my choices.
Yes, we are our fathers’ sons and daughters,
but we are not their choices.
For despite their absences we are still here,
still alive, still breathing,
with the power to change this world,
one little boy and girl at a time.
Knock knock
Who’s there?
We are.

Answer 1

The relationship between the father and son in the provided lines can be described as deeply affectionate yet profoundly affected by absence and separation. Initially, the relationship is characterized by warmth and love, as illustrated by the shared morning ritual of knocking and the son's joyful response to his father's affectionate greeting. This bond represents a cherished connection between them.

However, the tone shifts dramatically when the "knock" that once brought joy turns into a symbol of loss. The son is left confused and heartbroken when he discovers that his father's absence is due to incarceration, leading to a lasting impact on his life. The son’s yearning for his father's presence and guidance is evident in his reflections on missed lessons and shared experiences.

As the piece progresses, the father's voice emerges to express regret and a desire to impart wisdom despite his absence. The father's acknowledgment of his failures and encouragement for the son to forge his own path reveals a complex dynamic where love exists amid pain and loss. Ultimately, the relationship evolves from a joyful one to one that grapples with the consequences of choices and the quest for identity, emphasizing themes of resilience, hope, and the enduring bond between parent and child.

Answer 2

hich of the following identifies a theme of the text?

There are some things that a boy can only learn from his father regardless of how independent he may be.

The eventual outcome of children is not determined by their parents, and instead children can learn from their parents' mistakes.

Parents make choices that have a permanent impact on their children's futures, and this shouldn't be ignored.

There are some mistakes made by parents that their children cannot forgive.

Answer 3

The theme that best identifies the text is:

The eventual outcome of children is not determined by their parents, and instead children can learn from their parents' mistakes.

This theme resonates with the text as the son reflects on his father's absence, acknowledges the lessons he missed, and ultimately decides to forge his own path while recognizing that he is not bound by his father's choices. The father's message to "knock knock down doors" emphasizes the idea that, despite his absence and mistakes, the son has the power to shape his own destiny and break free from the limitations imposed by his father's life choices.

Answer 4

How does the first half of the poem (Lines 1-44) compare to the second half (Lines 45-69).

The first half of the poem addresses the speaker's desire to have his father in his life, while the second half shows that he is able succeed without him.

The first half of the poem addresses the speaker's desire to have his father in his life, while the second half shows that he is able succeed without him.

The first half of the poem shows how dependent the speaker is on his father, while the second half proves that he doesn't need him.

The first half of the poem shows how dependent the speaker is on his father, while the second half proves that he doesn't need him.

The first half of the poem shows how much the speaker needs his father, while the second half expresses his anger at him for being absent.

The first half of the poem shows how much the speaker needs his father, while the second half expresses his anger at him for being absent.

The first half of the poem shows how close the speaker and his father were, while the second half reveals how much hatred he now has for his father.

Answer 5

The best comparison of the two halves of the poem is:

The first half of the poem addresses the speaker's desire to have his father in his life, while the second half shows that he is able to succeed without him.

In the first half, the speaker reflects on the fond memories of his relationship with his father, expressing a longing for that connection and the lessons he missed due to his father's absence. In contrast, the second half presents the father's recognition of his failures and encourages the speaker to carve out his own path, emphasizing the idea that he can thrive independently despite the absence of paternal guidance. This shift highlights the speaker's growth and the realization that he possesses the strength to succeed on his own.

Answer 6

line 37, "How to walk like a man" is an example of

Answer 7

In line 37, "how to walk like a man," is an example of figurative language and can also be viewed as an expression of masculine identity or masculinity. The phrase implies that there are certain behaviors, attitudes, or ways of being that define what it means to be a "man," often encompassing qualities like confidence, strength, and responsibility.

Additionally, it represents a broader search for guidance and mentorship in the speaker's life. The speaker yearns for teachings that are typically associated with father-son relationships, reflecting a desire for not just practical skills (like how to shave or dribble a ball) but also for the emotional and social understanding that comes with fatherly advice.

Answer 8

line 37, "How to walk like a man" is an example of

Simile

Metaphor

Hyperbole

Repetition

Answer 9

Line 37, "How to walk like a man," is best classified as a metaphor.

In this context, the phrase implies not just the physical act of walking, but also the qualities associated with being a man, such as confidence, strength, and maturity. It figuratively conveys the idea of adopting a certain demeanor or attitude that represents masculine identity. While it does not explicitly compare one thing to another using "like" or "as," it suggests that walking "like a man" encompasses the broader characteristics and behaviors that define masculinity.

If you were to consider the broader context of the poem, you could also see this line as part of a pattern of yearning for guidance and becoming one's own person, but it does not literally involve simile, hyperbole, or repetition in this instance.