Lift Every Voice and Sing by James

Which of the following best describes the mood or overall feeling of the first stanza?

• a.

  surprise at lucky circumstances

• b.

  hesitation about what is yet to come

• c.

  strength and resolve in the face of difficulty

In the second stanza, how do the phrases,

"...a way that with tears has been watered, and

treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,"

affect the meaning of the poem?

• by describing a dark and violent past

• by showing why the singers gave up hope

• explaining the ways in which history repeats itself

Reread the final lines of the second stanza and answer the question that follows:

"Out from the gloomy past,

Till now we stand at last,

Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast."

How do these ending lines build on the mood created earlier in the stanza?

• by highlighting how things can change very quickly

• by displaying confusion on the part of the speakers

• by creating a sense of hope after the struggle

Read the following excerpt from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and answer the question that follows.

"Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us."

How does the repetition in these lines help convey the meaning of the lyrics (words)?

• by suggesting the type of gift the speaker wishes to make to the listener

• by showing how the speaker draws strength from past and present

• by explaining why the speaker fears that the present will be like the past

Read the following excerpt from “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and answer the question that follows.

"Yet with a steady beat,

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed"

What does the phrase, " for which our fathers sighed " tell us about the “place” where they find themselves?

• that the speaker’s ancestors feared it

• that the speaker has been warned about it

• that the speaker’s ancestors wished to arrive there

Which of the following best describes the gist of the poem?

• the story of giving up in the face of difficulty

• the journey of a people who have suffered greatly but persevered (never gave up)

• a lesson in not taking for granted what you have

How do the singers emphasize the words, " brought us" in the song?

• by speeding up how they sing them

• by slowing down how they sing them

• by singing them more loudly than other words

How does this emphasis on the words,

"brought us", highlight a theme in the text?

• It shows the fear the speakers feel.

• It shows the importance of community.

• It shows the speakers’ struggle to be heard.

How do the singers emphasize the final four lines of the stanza?

• They repeat the lines.

• They cut out some of the lines.

• They don't sing at all.

What is the theme of this poem/song?

• People can often find strength and faith to keep going during difficult times by looking to the past.

• That people can find love in many places.

• You can't judge a book by the cover.