Eng. 9 - Jan. 17 - Poetry Questions

Complete the first three for Thursday 18; the second three for Friday 19



"Negro Mother" - Nicole, Devin, Claire, Zack
"Democracy" - Arielle, Inez, Marcus, Ian
"Bell Ringing" - Ephron, Anjali, Hudson, Hannah
"Funeral Blues" - Katherine, Shane, Coel, Faith
"Bored" - Orran, Taylor, Mollie, Curtis
"Killer" - Evan, Owen, David, Megan, Charles


Identify Literary Devices

"Negro Mother"

1. Explain the following quote: "Now, through my children, young and free, I realize the blessings denied to me."
2. Where do you think the mother comes from?
3. What is the message of this poem?
- Speaker - not the "poet"
- Composite
- Tone/mood - sad, hardships, becomes more hopeful "out of the darkness… banner out of the dust" - anthem
- Rhyme - rhyming couplets (rhyme scheme - aabbccddee..)
- Rhythm, meter
- Simile - "dark as the night," "like steel in my soul"
- Metaphor - "make of those years a torch for tomorrow/ Make of my past a road to the light"
- Alliteration - "torch for tomorrow," "strong in struggle and strife"
- Hyperbole (an exaggeration) - "sometimes the valley was filled with tears"

- Torch = light and hope
- Light = hope
- Road = experiences
- Figurative language, imagery


"Democracy"

1. What is the tone of this poem?
2. What is the message of this poem?







"I Still Hear the Bell Ringing"

1. Why do you think that's the only advice the speaker remembers.
2. What is the speaker looking for?
3. What is the tone of the poem?
4. What gender is the speaker? How do you know?

"Funeral Blues"

1. Whose point of view is the poem from? How do you know?
2. What is this poem about?
3. What do you think the speaker is thinking or feeling when writing this?
4. Who has died and what is the relationship with the speaker?

"Bored"

1. What literary devices are used in this poem?
2. What do you think is the inspiration for this poem?
3. What is the deeper meaning behind "Bored"?

"Killer"

1. What does the wasp symbolize?
2. How does the wasp die?
3. What kind of emotion is portrayed in this poem?