Mother to Son

The stair in "Mother to Son" has all of the following flaws except...

• torn up boards

• cracks

• tacks

• splinters

The mother tells her son...

• to be more carefree.

• to make more money.

• to not fall in love.

• not to give up.

The mother says she is...

• giving up on climbing.
• standing still.
• sitting down.
• still climbing.

The mother's tone is best described as ...

• harsh

• fearful

• encouraging

• indifferent

Which is the main type of figurative language used in the poem?

• simile

• extended metaphor

• personification

• hyperbole

Why do you think the author began and finished the piece with, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair"?

• To emphasize an important idea.
• To show the passage of time.
• To show that the author is forgetful.
• To describe the stair.

The author says that "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." Used in this poem, what does "crystal" mean?

• transparent and slippery
• rough
• beautiful and dangerous
• clear and smooth

The mother's dialect or manner of speaking makes the poem more _______.

• funny
• serious
• realistic
• boastful

Who is the author of the "Mother to Son"?

• Langston Bughes
• Langston Hughes
• Langston Williams
• Langston Shakespheare

The mother compares her life to a _____

• river

• road

• staircase

• journey