Skinny Tomboy QUIZ THEME

SkinnyTomboy

Theme

^{The theme of a literary work is the insight or message about life that the literary work}

^{expresses. A literary work may have more than one theme, and a theme or themes may be}

^{stated directly or—more often—implied, or suggested.}

When the theme is not directly stated, readers must examine text details and draw

conclusions about the theme.

• For example, when trying to determine the theme or themes

  of a poem, consider the events described in the poem, the speaker’s thoughts and

  feelings, the title of the work, the descriptive details, and so on.

Ask yourself questions

such as, What does the speaker learn? Does the speaker grow or change?

Multiple Choice

A. DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions related to “I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid.” For Question 1, the correct answer on the line..

1. ____ One theme of “I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid” is being different can be difficult. Which of the following is more likely another possible theme of the poem?

• a. Childhood can be a confusing time, but if you try too hard to fit in, you might lose sight of who you really are.

• b.  Society has ideas about how boys and girls are “supposed” to act, but individuals may not fit into those roles.

Multiple Choice

A. DIRECTIONS: Answer the following question related to “I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid.”

2. ____ Provide an example from the text that supports the theme you identified in Question 1.

• a. the speaker begins the day with "clenched fists"

• b. The speaker bikes to the ocean, goes fishing, and sells

  her catch dressed as a boy.

• c. the speaker vowed never to grow up and be a woman like her mother.

Multiple Choice

B. DIRECTIONS: Answer the following question related to “I Was a Skinny Tomboy

Look at lines 53–55 of the poem. Why does the speaker vow “to never  / grow up / to be a woman”? 

• a. The speaker believes that she would have to dress and act a certain way if she was a woman.

• b. As a child, the speaker viewed her mother as being

  helpless.

• c. the speaker would no longer be able to fish, ride her bike, and jump from the roofs of houses

Multiple Choice

4.  What does the speaker realize about her mother later in life that supports the following possible theme? Sometimes, age and life experience are needed for a clearer understanding of our lives. 

• a. The speaker realizes later in life that her mother had

  “guts,” or courage.

• b. The speaker realizes later in life that her mom was lazy.

Multiple Choice

B. DIRECTIONS: Read the poem, thinking about what the speaker expresses explicitly and implicitly. Then, answer the questions.

Opportunity Cost

The prize is worth the work

And the knowledge is worth the scar.

The choices that you make,

Make you who you are.

5 The love is worth the tears,

And the joy is worth the pain.

How many times I’ve paid the price

I’d happily pay again.

4. ____ Reread lines 7 and 8. What is suggested by the speaker saying that he or she would “happily” pay the “price” again?

• a. The speaker has not learned the lesson of risking too much emotionally.

  
  

• b. The speaker feels that gaining the life experience is worth the cost.