Nikki Giovanni Poems

In the poem Legacies, why did the little girl not want to learn to make rolls?

• She was afraid she couldn't do it correctly

• She didn't want to take over for her grandmother

• She doesn't like rolls

• She didn't want to think of life without her grandmother

What can the reader infer about the narrator's relationship with their grandmother?

• The grandmother is solely dependent on the narrator caring for her

• The grandmother's presence is important to the narrator

• The narrator takes advantage of what the grandmother provides

• The narrator doesn't know her grandmother well

Based on lines 16-18 of Legacies, the reader can infer that the narrator and grandmother-

• Aren't good at communicating how they feel about each other

• Believe that both people know how they feel about each other

• Aren't good at using their words

• Don't understand how to have a good relationship

What is the meaning of "pleasantries" as its used in stanza 1 of Mothers?

• things that make people happy

• remarks made in conversation

• items you buy at the store

• jokes made in conversation

The structure of the poem Mothers helps the reader-

• Learn about the memories of the narrator from their mother

• Determine what the narrator feels about their mother

• See how the relationship between the narrator and mother was formed

• Understand how the narrator came to resent their mother

Throughout the poem Mothers, the relationship between the narrator and her mom is presented as-

• Something that has always brought the narrator comfort

• A difficult thing that had to be formed over time

• A way for both of them to bond with each other

• Something that the narrator and mother never truly had

How does the imagery used in Walking Down Park help emphasize the poet's purpose?

• It helps the reader imagine what the area would look like without the city

• It makes the reader more aware of how human actions affect the environment

• It helps the reader visualize the poet's thoughts about the city's past

• It helps the reader find the beauty of living in a big city

Read the following lines from Mothers:

we must learn to bear the pleasures as we have borne the pain.

The poet uses this line to-

• emphasize that goodness will always outweigh sorrow

• show how she has found some balance in her life

• explain the pain that she has experienced

• recall the life of her mom in the apartment

What is the correct definition of bathed as its used in stanza 4 of Mothers?

• to cleanse one's body

• to cover something

• to spend time in the ocean

• to wipe gently with liquid

The structure of the poem Legacies helps the reader-

• see how the grandmother passes on her knowledge to her granddaughter

• understand how the little girl doesn't like thinking about life without her grandmother

• realize the little girl isn't as bad as she seems

• discover the prized secret of the family