Learning Target: I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text.

Transcription

1 Mother to Son By Langston Hughes 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 Cme I se been a- climbin on, And reachin landin s, And turnin corners, And somecmes 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 scll goin, honey, I se scll climbin, And life for me ain t been no crystal stair. Learning Target: I can determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. 1. The mother says that Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. Used in this context, what does crystal mean? A. Transparent and colorless. B. Sharp and painful. C. Beautiful and flawed. D. Clear and smooth. 2. What does the narrator mean by the line, For I se still goin, honey/i se still climbin? A. She is glad she has had hardships in her life. B. She wants her son to go though hardships. C. She i snot letting hardships pull her down. D. She thinks that hardships build character.

2 3. What might reachin landings symbolize in the mother s climb? A. Destructive forces in her life B. Portions of her life that held magic for her C. Compassionate forces in her life D. Places in her life where she had to stop and make decisions 4. Why do you think the word bare is on a line all alone? A. To emphasize the son s brutality B. Because Hughes couldn t think of anything else to add C. To emphasize how difficult and bare of luxuries the mother s life had been D. Because it rhymes with the word stair 5. What is the most likely meaning for turnin corners in the context of the poem? A. Places in her life where she set new goals or had to solve her own problems. B. Places in her life where she felt like she had failed. C. The point in her life when she knew her son would be successful. D. Her need to find a father figure for her son. 6. What is the style of language used in the poem, which is particular to a particular cultural or geographical region? A. Dialogue B. Dialect C. Diction D. Idioms Learning Target: I can cite evidence to support that the text says explicitly as well as draw inferences from the text. 7. What evidence from the poem below shows that the narrator has not had an easy life? A. Well, son, I ll tell you: B. Don t you set down on the steps. C. Cause you finds it s kinder hard. D. Don t you fall now Which line BEST supports the line, Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. A. Don t you set down on the steps B. It s had tacks in it/and splinters C. I se seen a climbin on D. So, boy, don t you turn back

3 9. What is the most likely age of her son? A. Elderly B. Infant C. Young Man D. Deceased 10. When life is challenging, the narrator does not give up. Which evidence from the poem below supports that statement? A. For I se still goin, honey B. Life for me ain t been no crystal stair. C. And turnin corners D. And reachin landins Learning Target: I can determine a theme or central idea of a text. 11. What message does the mother have for her son? A. Life may be difficult, but you should never give up. B. Friendships may come and go. C. Family is forever. D. Life is full of surprises at every corner. 12. What is a central idea of the poem? A. Happiness B. Overcoming difficulties C. Courage D. Trusting others 13. What is the author s purpose? A. Describe the importance of family B. Teach a lesson about life C. Instruct how to build a nice staircase D. Explain how to climb stairs 14. The central idea of this poem centers around the difficult rise of African-Americans from slavery. Which line from the poem illustrates that some successes have taken place? A. It s had tacks in it, B. And places with no carpet on the floor- - C. Cause you finds it s kinder hard D. And reachin landins,

4 Learning Target: I can analyze how a poem s structure or form contribute to its meaning. 15. Which line from the poem shows that it is written in first person A. And sometimes goin in the dark B. Where there ain t been no light C. And turnin corners D. I se been a-climbin on 16. Why do you think Langston Hughes used free verse to organize this poem? A. It makes it easier to read. B. It mimics a conversation. C. It shows a relationship. D. It teaches a lesson. Learning Target: I can analyze how particular elements of a poem interact. 17. What poetic device does the author use to show a stairway to represent life? A. Allusion B. Hyperbole C. Metaphor D. Personification 18. What idea does the first verse of the poem give us? A. Setting B. Theme C. Rhyme D. Symbolism 19. Which statement below best describes how the speaker evolves over the course of the poem? A. The speaker changes her message to her son. B. The speaker does not have a message to her son. C. The speaker emphasizes her message to her son. D. The speaker does not place importance on the message to her son. 20. Why do you think the author began and finished the piece if Life for me ain t been no crystal stair? A. To emphasize a key point B. To make sure you understood the idea C. To signify the passage of time D. To highlight an unusual thought

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