Benchmark Breakdown- Mother Nature

Benchmark Breakdown- Mother Nature

​Take out your packets and let's get going!

​What is theme?

The overall message or underlying meaning a writer explores in a novel, short story, or other literary work.

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The theme of a story can be conveyed using characters, setting, dialogue, plot, or a combination of all of these elements

​Examples of Theme

a unifying idea, image, or motif, repeated or developed throughout a work.​

​Examples include:

• ​Compassion.

• Courage.

• Death and dying.

• Honesty.

• Loyalty.

• Perseverance.

• Importance of family.

• Benefits of hard work.

Multiple Choice

Part A- Which is a theme of the poem?

• Darkness can bring order to nature.

• Nature provides a source of comfort.

• Motherhood is a gift to be treasured.

• Mothers create a sense of belonging.

Multiple Choice

Part B-Which set of lines from the poem supports the theme selected in Part A?

• “And when the sun goes downHer voice among the aisles” (lines 12-13)

• “Of the minutest cricket,The most unworthy flower.” (lines 15-16)

• “When all the children sleep She turns as long away” (lines 17-18)

• “With infinite affectionAnd infiniter care,” (lines 21-22)

​What does it mean when we are asked how do poetic elements contribute to the meaning of the poem?

​Anytime you read a poem, step one is figuring out the message and the meaning. In this poem, we learn that mother nature is personified. Now we have to consider what this means.

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Multiple Choice

Read lines 9-11.

How fair her conversation,A summer afternoon,—Her household, her assembly;

How do these lines affect the meaning of the poem?

• They suggest that nature is inherently trustworthy.

• They suggest that nature displays unpredictable behavior.

• They suggest that all of nature exists in harmony.

• They suggest that time varies throughout nature.

Multiple Choice

How does the description of the setting in lines 13-16 contribute to the meaning of the poem?

• The emphasis on the cricket and the flower suggests that opposites attract.

• The reference to an encouraging voice suggests acceptance and togetherness.

• The emphasis on the lack of one’s power creates an uneasy mood

• The reference to nature’s hierarchy creates a feeling of structure.

Multiple Choice

What can be inferred about the children referenced in lines 2 and 17?

• They represent all living creatures.

• They are uncontrollable.

• They represent tourists in the forest.

• They are imaginary.

​Unfamiliar Vocabulary

​Choose the best meaning of the unfamiliar vocabulary words.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of Feeblest?

• Lacking physical strength

• Increased physical strength

• Moving in different places

• Relates to Mother Nature

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of waywardest?

• resistant to guidance or discipline

• following guidance or discipline

• doing what is asked to be done.

• Relates to mother nature.

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of rampant?

• wild, difficult to control

• at ease, easy to control

• Controlled

• Easy to move

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of infinite?

• endless

• to come to an end

• to start

• to finish

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of timid?

• Shy or scared

• bold and courageous

• strong and mighty

• quirky and weird

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of suffice?

• enough or just the right amount

• not enough or not the right amount

• a little bit

• a lot

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank with the correct word for each meaning.

warning; correction

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank with the correct word for each meaning.

acting without thinking or planning; impulsive

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank with the correct word for each meaning.

prompts; encourages

Multiple Choice

How many stanzas does the poem have?

• 5

• 4

• 24

• 6

Multiple Choice

How many lines does the poem have?

• 15

• 20

• 24

• 6

Multiple Choice

A poet is

• a person who writes a poem

• a person who speaks in the poem

• a person who likes poems

• a rhyme

Multiple Choice

A speaker is

• a person who writes a poem

• the person who is speaking in the poem

• a person who likes poems

• a rhyme

Multiple Choice

The poet of this poem is

• Emily DIckinson

• William Shakespeare

• Ms. Doss

• Your mom

Poll

Do you understand why you missed the benchmark questions that you missed?