The Storyteller

What does the poet suggest about the tree in lines 24 through 30?

• It is nearing the end of its life.

• It was in danger one year during a particularly rainy season.

• It has many descriptions of events carved into its wood.

• It has witnessed many events through the years.

Which lines from the poem suggest that the tree deserves respect?

• And she changes her clothes each season: A dress of pink blossoms in the spring,

• She has scarred wood, With intricate designs carved into her face

• Her face looks out to the world, A grandmother to us all.

• Smelled the dew on summer dawns, And felt the moist soil at her feet.

Which word best describes the speaker’s attitude toward the tree?

• Appreciative

• Cheerful

• Sorrowful

• Envious

In line 16, the word hues means —

• injuries

• plants

• expressions

• colors

Why are the first and third lines of the poem echoed in the last stanza?

• To show how large the tree has grown

• To highlight that the age of the tree makes it special

• To remind the reader of the importance of the environment

• To explain what the speaker enjoys most about the tree’s appearance

Read lines 5 through 10 from the poem.

She was here as a seedling,

A mere child to the rest,

Young and naïve among her dark, old elders.

But now she is a guardian,

Tall and welcoming,

Gathering and shielding the children in her arms.

The poet uses personification in these lines most likely to show that the tree —

• protects the other trees

• provides a warning about approaching danger

• has become stronger as it has matured

• prevents smaller plants from having room to grow