Exploring Hughes' Mother to Son

Who is the speaker in Langston Hughes' poem "Mother to Son"?

• A teacher

• A mother

• A son

• A friend

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CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

What metaphor does the mother use to describe her life in the poem?

• A river

• A staircase

• A mountain

• A road

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

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CCSS.RI.11-12.9

Which phrase from the poem suggests that the mother has faced difficulties?

• "Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair."

• "I’ve been climbing."

• "I keep going."

• "I turn the light on."

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CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

What is the main message the mother wants to convey to her son?

• To always be polite

• To never give up despite hardships

• To travel the world

• To become rich

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CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

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How does the mother describe the staircase in her life?

• Smooth and easy

• Full of tacks, splinters, and torn-up boards

• Made of gold

• Short and straight

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CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.2.6

Why does the mother tell her son about her struggles?

• To make him feel sorry for her

• To warn him not to make the same mistakes

• To encourage him to persevere through his own challenges

• To convince him to move away

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CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

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

• Angry and resentful

• Hopeful and determined

• Indifferent and cold

• Humorous and light-hearted

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CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

How does the use of dialect in the poem affect its meaning and impact?

• It makes the poem harder to understand

• It adds authenticity and emphasizes the speaker’s background

• It distracts from the message

• It makes the poem sound formal

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CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

If the mother had described her life as a "crystal stair," how would the poem’s message change?

• It would suggest life is easy and without struggle

• It would make the poem more confusing

• It would emphasize the importance of education

• It would focus on wealth

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CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What evidence from the poem shows that the mother has not given up despite her hardships?

• She says she has stopped climbing

• She says, "I’se still climbin’"

• She says she turned back

• She says she sat down

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

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