Quiz on 'As I Grew Older' by Langston Hughes

What is the central theme of the poem?

• The difficulty of achieving dreams due to obstacles in life.

• The importance of forgetting the past.

• The idea that all dreams eventually come true.

• The belief that dreams should be abandoned with age.

What does the 'wall' in the poem most likely symbolize?

• A literal wall blocking the speaker’s path.

• The challenges and barriers that stand in the way of the speaker’s dream.

• The physical limitations of growing older.

• A wall that the speaker built to protect themselves.

The poet uses 'shadow' throughout the poem to symbolize:

• Darkness and despair.

• A place of rest.

• A guide for the speaker.

• A memory from childhood.

What is the tone of the poem?

• Hopeless and defeated.

• Frustrated but ultimately determined.

• Playful and lighthearted.

• Joyful and nostalgic.

Why does the speaker repeat 'slowly' when describing the wall rising?

• To emphasize how obstacles do not appear suddenly but build up over time.

• To show that the wall is not a serious problem.

• To indicate that the speaker is deliberately building the wall themselves.

• To suggest that the wall is an illusion.

How does the ending of the poem contrast with the earlier stanzas?

• The speaker moves from despair to action, fighting back against the obstacles.

• The speaker accepts defeat and stops dreaming.

• The speaker builds a stronger wall for protection.

• The speaker forgets their dream entirely.

What effect does the phrase 'My dark hands!' have on the poem?

• It highlights the speaker’s identity and personal struggle.

• It refers to the speaker’s love of art.

• It suggests that the speaker is physically weak.

• It shows that the speaker has given up.

The poet uses 'a thousand lights of sun' as a metaphor for:

• Many new dreams and opportunities.

• A literal sunrise.

• A celebration of summer.

• A vision of a city at night.

How does the structure of the poem contribute to its meaning?

• The short lines and repetition mirror the slow build-up of obstacles and the final burst of determination.

• The poem has a predictable rhyme scheme to create a musical effect.

• The structure is random and does not relate to the meaning.

• The long, flowing lines suggest that the speaker never faces any challenges.

Why does the speaker say 'Help me to shatter this darkness, / To smash this night'?

• They want to destroy the barriers that prevent them from achieving their dream.

• They wish to erase their memories.

• They are afraid of the night.

• They are asking for guidance from someone else.