Sympathy Poem Lesson

According to the speaker in “Sympathy,” how does the caged bird feel?

• bright, happy, perfumed

• alarmed, shamed, fearful

• constrained, oppressed, imprisoned

• faint, clinging, ill

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CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Which of the following BEST explains the title “Sympathy”?

• The speaker feels bad for the caged bird because of its injuries.

• The speaker also shares the caged bird’s desire for freedom.

• The speaker is critical of the caged bird’s reasons for singing.

• The speaker admires the caged bird’s courage.

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CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Which of the following BEST summarizes lines 10-11in "Sympathy"?

• The bird stays in his cage because his injuries might cause him to faint.

• The bird stays on his perch because he is afraid of the wind.

• The bird must return to the perch when he would rather be on a swing.

• The bird has to stay in the cage when he would rather be perched on a swinging tree branch.

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CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

Lines 12-14 of “Sympathy” suggest that...

• the bird is so crippled it will never be able to enjoy freedom.

• the bird has not given up hope despite a lifetime of captivity.

• as the bird gets older, its desire for freedom increases. (

• the bird could enjoy its captivity if only it would stop fighting.

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CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

"Sympathy" and "Caged Bird" both talk about the Black American struggle for freedom. Which figurative language element do they use to describe this in their poem?

• metaphor

• onomatopoeia

• alliteration

• hyperbole

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CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7

The poet compare the cage bird's song to

• Lullabuy

• Symphony

• Carol of Joy

• Prayer

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CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Based on what you know about the author, who or what does the "caged bird" represent?

• people who do not express themselves or their emotions

• African-Americans following the Civil War

• women

• children

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CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

When the poet says the "I know why the caged bird beats his wing...", what is he referencing?

• Sometimes, oppressed people rebel and protest the injustice of their situation.

• Birds who want to be free often flap their wings in annoyance.

• People often conflict when they do not feel free to be themselves.

• Sometimes oppressed people are hurt by their oppressors.

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CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Which of the following identifies the central theme of the poem?

• Freedom can be achieved as long as you fight hard enough for it.

• No one can live a full or happy life if they are denied freedom.

• Birds specifically cannot be denied freedom due to their need to fly,

• With enough tie, any person will lose the pull they feel towards freedom.

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CCSS.RL.4.9

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What is most closely the meaning of "fain" in line 11

• prefer to

• hate to

• pretend to

• refuse to

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CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4