Tamara's Opus

By writing this poem in first person point of view, the author helps the reader understand-

• Tamara's struggle with being deaf

• how the narrator felt about Tamara's blindness

• why the narrator hated his sister

• why the narrator felt guilt about his sister's disability

What can the reader conclude about the narrator from his actions in the poem?

• He regrets never having learned sign language.

• He wishes his sister wasn't deaf.

• He wants to be deaf like his sister.

• He misses his life before his sister was deaf.

What is the best word to define the word chastising as used in line 36?

• praising

• scolding

• watching

• playing with

In stanza one, the poet begins the poem by-

• conveying the narrator's guilt about his sister

• explaining how he wished that he had learned sign language

• introducing the conflict by illustrating Tamara's disability

• using metaphors to imply the narrator's frustration with Tamara's deafness

The poet switches from PAST tense to PRESENT tense in order to-

• explain his history with his sister's deafness

• convey his happiness at getting a second chance of talking to Tamara

• speak directly to Tamara

• describe where the sister is now in her life

Which essential question does this poem best connect to?

• What motivates an individual to take action?

• How do our actions shape our path?

• When are the consequences of our actions worth the risk?

"...to the vibration of speakers booming so loud that I imagined angels chastising us" is an example of -

• alliteration

• onomatopoeia

• hyperbole

• simile

What change do we see in the speaker?

• He goes from anger to sadness.

• He goes from determined to guilty.

• He goes from selfish to caring.

• He goes from vengeful to apologetic.

Which line best represents the speaker's feeling of regret?

• "Remember the face of your little brother."

• "Until you have seen a deaf girl dance, you know nothing of passion."

• "It is only now that I see that I was never willing to put in the extra effort to love her properly."

• "I still remember her 20th birthday."

The words "sister", "family", and "goodbye" in line 47 to highlight the speaker's-

• eagerness to see his sister again

• desire to learn sign language

• need for forgiveness from his family

• regret for not learning to speak to his sister