Song of Bravery Poem Quiz

What do all of the sayings “Make your own luck”, “Reach for the stars”, “Aced it!”, and “Break a leg” have in common?

• They are all idioms used to express encouragement or good luck

• They are all things that the speaker does in the poem

• They are all literal instructions for what to do in certain situations

In line 7, the speaker says, “The sun is not shining on me today.” What does she mean?

• She is feeling hot and uncomfortable

• It is a cloudy day

• Things are not going well for her

In lines 9-10, the speaker says “Before the day is out, I’ll taste the grit of dust.” What does she mean?

• She is going to eat dirt

• She will face failure or disappointment

• She needs to clean her room

What tense does the speaker use in the third stanza?

• Present tense

• Future tense

• Past tense

What is the speaker talking about in the third stanza?

• She is talking about being unsure or having regrets.

• She is talking about not being as good as others.

• She is describing her great successes.

The lines “bones clicking quietly together,/ blood flowing dutifully/ from heart to hands and back again” help the reader understand:

• The speaker’s physical fitness

• The setting of the poem

• The speaker’s emotional state

What does the speaker mean when she says, “I step out through the door of my own shadow”?

• She is leaving her house

• She is facing her fears and doubts

• She is casting a shadow on someone else

As explained in the annotation on page 1 of this activity, the last two lines of the poem are an allusion to a practice from ancient Roman times.

Do you think this poem is literally about fighting lions in front of a crowd? Is the poem literally about fighting lions in front of a crowd?

• Yes, the speaker is describing an actual lion fight

• No, the lion fight is a metaphor for facing challenges in life

• It is unclear what the poem is about

What does it mean to be brave?

• To have the strength to face challenges or difficulty

• To have good luck on your side

• To avoid taking risks

Does the title “Song of Bravery” fit this poem?

• Yes, because the poem is about facing challenges and being courageous

• No, because the poem is about something else entirely

• It is unclear whether the title fits the poem.