Sugar Cane (poem) and Cane Cutting Scene (painting)

What is the theme of the poem?

• Sugar cane is destroyed by natural disasters, in the same way slaves were oppressed by their masters.

• Sometimes no matter how hard we struggle or want something we are unable be overcome.

• With hard work all adversity can be overcome.

• All things grow and change over time.

How does Nichols use personification to develop the theme of the poem?

• Nichols uses personification to illustrate that slave life isn't always so bad.

• Nichols uses personification to illustrate how slaves remain hopeful as they grow tall and strong.

• Nichols uses personification to illustrate how slaves continuously face obstacles and oppression that cannot be overcome.

• Nichols uses personification to illustrate the anger of slaves towards their oppressive master.

Reread the excerpt from “Sugar Cane” and then answer the question.

“and when he

growing tall

with the help

of the sun

and rain

we feel the

need to strangle

the life

out of him

But either way he cannot survive”

What does the excerpt reveal about Grace Nichols' attitude toward slavery?

• Nichols believes that natural disasters make the work of slaves more difficult.

• Nichols believes that slaves are given an opportunity to thrive while working in the sugarcane fields.

• Nichols believes slaves working on sugarcane plantations are in a hopeless situation.

• Nichols believes that farmers act too violently in harvesting sugarcane.

Which TWO of the following describe the different purposes of the poet and the painter?

• The poet gives a more positive image of slave life.

• The poet portrays the brutality and cruel injustice of slavery.

• The painter gives a more positive image of slave life.

• The painter portrays the brutality and cruel injustice of slavery.

How does the example "the juice inside himself" demonstrate personification in "Sugar Cane?"

• The "juice" of the plant makes the reader think about how the plant is like a human who enjoys drinking sugary juices.

• The "juice" of the plant makes the reader think about how the plant is like a human who has blood inside of him.

• The "juice" of the plant makes the reader think about how the plant is like a human who is thirsty.

• The "juice" of the plant makes the reader think about how the plant is like a human who acts delirious.

Which detail from the poem best reveals the poet's purpose of portraying the cruelty of slavery?

• “just before/the hurricane/strike/smashing him to pieces”

• "There is something about sugarcane"

• “we feel the/need to strangle/the life/out of him/But either way he can’t survive” (lines 43-47)

• "it is us/who groom and/weed him" (lines 32-34)

Which detail from the poem helps clarify the meaning of jaundice (line 15)?

• "his skin thick" (line 9)

• "His colour" (line 13)

• "he shiver/like ague/when it rain" (lines 17-19)

• "he suffer/from bellywork/burning fever" (lines 20-22)

Which detail from the poem helps clarify the meaning of ague (line 18)?

• "he suffer/from belly work/burning fever and delirium (lines 20-22)

• "when it rain" (line 19)

• "his colour/is the aura/of jaundice" (lines 13-15)

• "it is us/who groom and/weed him" (lines 32-34)

Which of the following describes the poet's tone (attitude) towards slavery?

• The poet believes that farmers act too violently when harvesting sugarcane.

• The poet believes that bad weather makes the work of slaves more difficult.

• The poet believes that slaves are allowed to thrive while working in the sugarcane fields.

• The poet believes that slaves working on a sugarcane plantation are in a hopeless situation.