Combing by Gladys Cardiff

1. In the poem, the words “Preparing hair. Something women do for each other…”functions as a way of –

• A. Suggesting that the speaker likes combing her daughter’s hair.

  B.

• Introducing the role of women in society.

  C.

• Indicating that it is a way in which women connect with each other.

• D. Shoring beauty.

2. The author writes about her daughter, mother, and granddaughter –

• To show how they all knew how to braid hair.

• To show the bond between generations in her family.

• To show they are all still alive.

• To tell the reader about her family.

In the poem, plaiting/combing is a symbol of –

• Familial bonds

• Hairstyles

• Cleanliness

• The speaker’s grandmother

One theme explored in the poem is –

• The importance of traditions

• Oppression

• Hairstyles throughout the years

• The importance of family bonds

Read the following lines from the poem and identify the type of figurative language being used:

My daughter’s hair

Curls against the comb.

Wet and fragrant -

• Imagery

• Hyperbole

• Allusion

• Simile

How many stanzas does "Combing" have?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Based on the third stanza, Mathilda is –

• The speaker’s mother

• The speaker’s great-grandmother

• The speaker

• The speaker’s daughter

"My daughter's hair curls against the comb" is an example of -

• hyperbole

• metaphor

• simile

• imagery