Poetry of bell hooks

Poetry of bell hooks

By Naomi Lucas Anthony

Multiple Choice

What does the phrase "love must clean house" most likely symbolize in the poem?

• Rearranging furniture after a breakup

• Letting go of emotional baggage and painful memories

• Preparing for guests to arrive

• Moving to a new home with a partner

Multiple Choice

The tone of the poem can best be described as:

• Sarcastic and humorous

• Bitter and angry

• Reflective and hopeful

• Excited and energetic

Multiple Choice

Which literary device is most prominent in the line “give each lamentation an ear to hear / a heart to lay rest”?

• Alliteration

• Simile

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What is the main theme of the poem?

• The joy of childhood memories

• A child’s experience of betrayal and loss of parental love

• The excitement of growing up

• The pressure to succeed in school

Multiple Choice

What does the repeated phrase “same same” and “change change” emphasize?

• That the speaker has become someone new

• The confusion and emotional impact of her father’s sudden change

• That time is passing quickly

• The speaker's need to run away

Multiple Choice

What literary device is used in the line “leave my inside soul cleared out blank empty”?

• Irony

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Multiple Choice

What literary device is most strongly used in the phrase "this heaven-sent secret odor of enchantment"?

• Simile

• Hyperbole

• Imagery

• Alliteration

Multiple Choice

How does the speaker portray "big mama" in the poem?

• As a strict and stern figure

• As a mysterious and magical presence

• As an outsider who does not belong

• As a young and naive girl

Multiple Choice

What is the likely theme of this poem?

• The difficulty of growing up in poverty

• The power of romantic love

• The celebration of nurturing Black womanhood and cultural memory

• The dangers of idealizing the past

Open Ended

In bell hooks' poem, how does "big mama" show love and acceptance to those around her? Use at least two details from the poem to support your answer.