Poem Analysis Quiz

“December. Frost cracking / Beneath my steps, my breath / Before me, then gone.” What effect does this imagery most likely have?

• It foreshadows something dangerous.

• It sets a joyful, holiday mood.

• It enhances the winter setting and mimics the boy’s nervousness.

• It symbolizes the girl’s cold attitude.

“Fog hanging like old / Coats between the trees.” What literary device is used here?

• Allusion

• Simile

• Irony

• Hyperbole

What best describes the tone of the poem?

• Bitter and regretful

• Sarcastic and distant

• Warm and nostalgic

• Cold and mocking

“I peeled my orange / That was so bright against / The gray of December…” What does the orange symbolize in this moment?

• A sign of guilt

• Hope, warmth, and innocence

• Expensive wealth

• Holiday tradition

“And when she lifted a chocolate / That cost a dime, / I didn’t say anything.” Which theme is emphasized in this moment?

• Betrayal

• Silent generosity and young love

• Fear of adulthood

• The power of language

“The lady’s eyes met mine, / And held them, knowing / Very well what it was all / About.” What does the woman’s gaze most likely suggest?

• She’s suspicious

• She understands the boy’s intentions and shows empathy

• She disapproves

• She thinks he’s stealing

What effect does the enjambment (lines flowing without punctuation) have on the poem's rhythm and tone?

• It makes the poem choppy and abrupt

• It creates a sense of confusion

• It mimics the smooth, continuous movement of memory and walking

• It emphasizes each individual word

“Outside / A few cars hissing past…” Which device is “hissing” an example of?

• Simile

• Onomatopoeia

• Irony

• Juxtaposition

Which two contrasting images are juxtaposed in the final stanza?

• Cold wind and warm breath

• Adults and children

• Bright orange and gray December

• Snow and ice

“That from a distance, / Someone might have thought / I was making a fire in my hands.” What is the most accurate interpretation of this metaphor?

• He is literally starting a fire

• It refers to religious imagery

• The warmth of the orange and his emotion create an inner glow

• He is trying to stay alive in the cold