To a Daughter Leaving Home

Which word best describes the tone of the poem?

• admiring

• apprehensive

• nostalgic

• tragic

Which statement best describes the main theme of the poem?

• Parents are unable to let go of their children as they get older.

• Parents have conflicting emotions about their children growing up.

• Bike riding is difficult and often dangerous.

• Children need to be taught to ride bicycles at eight years old.

Re-read lines 21-24 from the poem. These lines contain which of the following?

the hair flapping

behind you like a

handkerchief waving

goodbye.

• irony

• metaphor

• allusion

• simile

Who is the speaker of the poem?

• a parent

• a child

• a friend

• a grandparent

Why does the author use repetition in the phrase, “pumping, pumping / for your life” in lines 18 and 19?

• Repetition changes the tone of the poem.

• Repetition emphasizes the effort required from the child.

• Repetition serves to take up necessary space.

• Repetition creates a sense of fear in the child.

What does the word "loping" mean?

• short, choppy steps

• long, easy stride

• fast sprint

• snails pace

How old was the daughter when she taught her to ride a bike?

• 4

• 7

• 8

• 12

This poem is a metaphor of life's journey.

• True

• False

How is this poem structured?

• In stanzas

• In one long sentence

What function do the clauses play in this poem?

• to represent the different stages of the bicycle lesson and hence the growing up process

• to confuse the reader by not using periods

• to explain how to ride a bike

• to emphasize why you should teach yourself to ride a bike