"THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT" by John Godfrey Saxe

Which of the following is NOT a true statement? (Stanzas 1-3)

• Men 1 and 2 are blind and rely on their sense of touch.

• The First man knows he is touching an elephant.

• The Second man thinks he has found a spear instead of a tusk.

• Both men are surprised by what they feel when they touch the elephant.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RI.7.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

What do the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth men have in common?

• They are too embarrassed to admit that they are completely wrong.

• None of them realize they are touching an elephant.

• None of the men trust the others' judgement of what the elephant is like.

• They all agree with one another, but cannot figure out the puzzle.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.5

(PART A) Which of the following best summarizes a central theme of the text?

• In order to understand something entirely, it must be viewed from different perspectives.

• Learning is not a noble pursuit if it only leads to controversy and debate.

• Comedy can teach people how to see themselves clearly.

• Nature is designed to confuse and frighten mankind.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

(PART B) Which of the following best supports the answer to Part A?

• "It was six men of Indostan / To learning much inclined" (Lines 1-2)

• "Who went to see the Elephant / Though all of them were blind" (Lines 3-4)

• "And so these men of Indostan / Disputed loud and long, / Each in his own opinion / Exceeding stiff and strong." (Lines 43-46)

• "Though each was partly in the right, / They all were in the wrong!" (Lines 47-48)

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

How does the speaker play with the meaning of the word "blind"?

• To describe the men's physical blindness, but also their ignorance of basic ideas of their focus on academia and becoming scholars.

• To describe the men's physical blindness, but also their lack of attunement to and respect of nature (i.e. being blind to shape of an animal).

• To describe the men's physical blindness, but also their introspective blindness- for the men know little about themselves and others.

• To describe the men's physical blindness, but also their inability to recognize bigger things (like the whole shape of an elephant) because of their preoccupation with the smaller things (like parts of the elephant).

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which of the following best describes the overall tone of the poem?

• Suspicious, as speaker relates that the men seem guarded about what they sense.

• Playful, as the speaker recounts the men's comedic attempts to understand an elephant.

• Mocking, as the speaker criticizes the men for their failed attempt to see an elephant.

• Angry, as speaker describes the men arguing over what the elephant looks like.

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4