The Blind Men and the Elephant

1. PART A: Which of the following best summarizes a central theme of the text? (Theme)

• A. In order to understand something entirely, it must be viewed from different perspectives.

• B. Learning is not a noble pursuit if it only leads to controversy and debate.

• C. Comedy can teach people how to see themselves and those around them more clearly.

• D. Nature is designed to confuse and frighten mankind and is often misunderstood.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

2. PART B: Which of the following best supports the answer to Part A? (Theme)

• A. “It was six men of Indostan / To learning much inclined” (Lines 1-2)

• B. “Who went to see the Elephant / Though all of them were blind” (Lines 3-4)

• C. “And so these men of Indostan / Disputed loud and long, / Each in his own opinion / Exceeding stiff and strong.” (Lines 43-46)

• D. “Though each was partly in the right, / They all were in the wrong!” (Lines 47-48)

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

3. Which of the following best describes the overall tone of the poem? (Diction)

• A. Suspicious, as speaker relates that the men seem guarded about what they sense

• B. Playful, as the speaker recounts the men’s comedic attempts to understand an elephant

• C. Mocking, as the speaker criticizes the men for their failed attempt to see an elephant

• D. Angry, as speaker describes the men arguing over what the elephant looks like

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

4. In lines 4 and 32, what do the words “blind” and “blindest” suggest about the six men other than that they physically cannot see? (VIC)

• A. They are ignorant of basic ideas because of their focus on becoming scholars.

• B. They lack respect for nature and act without thinking.

• C. They are unable to recognize the full picture and focus on small details.

• D. They are incapable of being sympathetic to the feelings of other people and animals.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

5. PART A: Which statement best describes how the structure of “The Blind Man and the Elephant” allows the reader to imagine what is happening in the poem? (Structure)

• A. Separate stanzas help the reader picture the unique observations and personality of each man.

• B. Short lines help the reader to imagine how quick and superficial the men’s observations are.

• C. The rhythm of the lines helps the reader compare the feelings of the blind men and how they get along.

• D. The rhyme scheme helps the reader imagine the suspenseful mood throughout the poem.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

6. Based on the poem, how are the Second and Fifth Man’s points of view different? (POV)

• A. The Second Man believes the elephant is very strong, while the Fifth Man believes the elephant has sharp qualities.

• B. The Second Man believes the elephant has pointed features, while the Fifth Man believes the elephant has wide ears.

• C. The Second Mam believes the elephant is uninteresting, while the Fifth Man believes that the elephant is interesting.

• D. The Second Man believes the elephant believes the elephant’s tusks are sacred, while the Fifth Man believes that its tail is sacred.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

7. Why do the men of Indostan travel to see the elephant? (Retell)

• A. To prove their knowledge of nature to each other.

• B. To engage in a dispute of wisdom.

• C. To gain knowledge through observations.

• D. To test their senses despite their blindness.

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.10

CCSS.RL.5.10

CCSS.RL.5.6

CCSS.RL.6.10

CCSS.RL.7.10

8. Which line supports the correct answer to Part A? (Retell)

• A. “to learning much inclined” (line 2)

• B. “though all of them were blind” (line 4)

• C. “ can tell what this resembles most” (line 33)

• D. “disputed loud and long” (line 44)

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4