Poetry Comprehension Flashcard: "Sick" by Shel Silverstein

Front

What is the main theme of the poem 'Sick' by Shel Silverstein?

Back

The main theme is about a child's desire to avoid school by pretending to be sick.

Front

What does the word 'wrenched' mean in the context of the poem?

Back

In the context of the poem, 'wrenched' means injured or hurt.

Front

What can we infer about the speaker's feelings towards school?

Back

The speaker does not enjoy going to school and prefers to stay home.

Front

What literary device is used when the speaker pretends to be sick?

Back

This is an example of irony, as the speaker pretends to be sick to avoid school but ends up actually feeling unwell.

Front

What does the speaker realize at the end of the poem?

Back

The speaker realizes that there was no school that day.

Front

How does the speaker's attitude change throughout the poem?

Back

The speaker starts by pretending to be sick but ends up feeling genuinely unwell.

Front

What is a synonym for 'injured' as used in the poem?

Back

A synonym for 'injured' is 'wrenched'.

Front

What conclusion can be drawn from the last stanza of the poem?

Back

The conclusion is that the speaker was pretending to be sick to miss school.

Front

What does the speaker express in line 26 of the poem?

Back

The speaker expresses that they are sick with a high fever.

Front

What is the significance of the speaker's realization about school?

Back

It highlights the theme of childhood avoidance and the lengths to which children will go to escape responsibilities.