Orpheus, Part Two, XII Poem

(RL.1.2) PART A: Which statement best expresses a main theme of Passage 1?

• People are motivated by their own fears and selfish desires.

• True love is worth great sacrifice and can survive even death.

• Beauty is more valuable than true love.

• People are incapable of escaping the finality of death.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.1.2) PART B: Which detail from Passage 1 supports the answer to Part A?

• “the dark underworld should recognize the misery of death, he dared descend by the Taenarian gate down to the gloomy Styx.” (Paragraph 2)

• “While he sang all his heart said to the sound of his sweet lyre, the bloodless ghosts themselves were weeping,” (Paragraph 3)

• “in all that time, shunning all women, Orpheus still believed his love-pledge was forever.” (Paragraph 5)

• “So he kept away from women, though so many grieved, because he took no notice of their love.” (Paragraph 5)

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.2.4) PART A: What impact does the word “sputter” in paragraph 1 of Passage 1 have on the mood of the story?

• It demonstrates Orpheus’ hope for his marriage to Eurydice, creating a happy mood in the story.

• It parallels the potential and missed chances of the characters, contributing to the somber mood of the story.

• It represents Eurydice’s inner desire to be free of marriage, reflecting a tense mood in the story.

• It foreshadows Orpheus’ inner struggle with his grief for his wife and desire to move on, leading to a distressed mood in the story.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.2.4) PART B: Which detail fromPassage 1 best supports the answer to Part A?

• “O deities of this dark world beneath the earth! this shadowy underworld, to which all mortals must descend!” (Paragraph 2)

• “they called to them Eurydice…she obeyed the call by walking to them with slow steps, yet halting from her wound.” (Paragraph 3)

• “There remained but little more to climb till they would touch earth’s surface…Instantly she slipped away.” (Paragraph 3)

• “Seven days he sat upon Death’s river bank, in squalid misery and without all food—nourished by grief, anxiety, and tears” (Paragraph 4)

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.3.7) What subject is being represented in both Passage 1 and Passage 2?

• The death of Eurydice

• Oprheus’ agreement with Pluto

• Orpheus and Eurydice returning from the underworld

• The joy of Opheus and Eurydice on their wedding day

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.3.7) What is absent from the painting (Passage 2) that is included in the myth (Passage 1)?

• Orpheus’ role as a musician

• Orpheus leading Eurydice from the underworld

• Pluto telling Orpheus that he cannot look at Eurydice during their journey

• The steep path they must take during their journey

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

(RL.3.9) In what TWO ways does Atwood transform the myth (Passage 1) in her poem (Passage 3)?

• Atwood retells the story from Eurydice’s perspective.

• Atwood includes additional characters to give more detail about the story.

• Atwood changes the setting of the encounter between Orpheus and Pluto.

• Atwood alters the plot of the story by changing what happens when Orpheus looks at Eurydice when returning from the underworld.

• Atwood introduces the idea that Eurydice may not have wanted to return with Orpheus.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.7

CCSS.RI.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.11-12.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7