Poetry Analysis Quiz over "Geography Lesson"

How does the speaker develop the theme of the poem ? 

• 1.  by expressing the distances between families 

• 1.  by highlighting the relationship between identity and place 

• 1. by emphasizing the efforts people take to hide their emotions 

• 1.  by revealing the triumph of the human spirit

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which set of lines supports the theme of identity and place? 

• 1.  “We have one face, but live on two islands:” (lines 6 -7) 

• 1.  “South, Puerto Rico part of a larger archipelago” (lines 11 -12) 

• 1.  “sprayed out like granules of salt across the Caribbean.” (lines 13 -14) 

• 1.  “wishing, sometimes, the other would simply disappear.” (lines 17 -18)

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

 How does the speaker’s point of view impact the poem ? 

•  The speaker’s shallow point of view shows his disdain for the country in which his parents were raised.

• 1.  The speaker’s objective point of view illustrates his struggle learning how to speak English. 

• 1.  The speaker’s passionate point of view reveals his appreciation for the opportunity to live in a different country. 

• 1. The speaker’s reflective point of view highlights his connection to two very different islands.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

North, New York City 

burns my lips whenever my tongue 

cleaves its concrete syllables.

How does the figurative language of lines 8-10 above affect the poem? 

• 1. It expresses how horrible life is for the speaker in New York City. 

• 1. It provides a visual image of the dangers the speaker faces in New York City. 

• 1. It illustrates that the speaker does not feel fully comfortable in New York City.

• 1. It emphasizes the desire of the speaker to escape life in New York City.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.4

What is the purpose of the simile in the lines below?

sprayed out like granules of salt

across the Caribbean. 

•  to emphasize the natural beauty of the Puerto Rican landscape

• 1. to highlight the connection the speaker feels to Puerto Rican heritage 

• 1. to imply that the speaker’s memories of Puerto Rico are romanticized 

• 1. to depict Puerto Rico as far away and inaccessible

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

How does the poem’s structure reveal the internal conflict of the speaker? 

• 1. The questions highlight the speaker’s struggle to understand where he belongs. 

• 1. The short stanzas highlight the pain the speaker feels when he is both at home in New York City and abroad. 

• 1. The contrast between North and South highlights the speaker’s desire to return to Puerto Rico. 

• 1. The repetition pattern highlights the attempts of the speaker to convince himself he is happy.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.11