The Ballad of Birmingham

1. Which word has the same connotation as "clawed" as it is used in the poem (stanza 8)?

• pillaged

• damaged

• searched

• fought

Which lines support the idea that the mother starts to believe something is wrong?

• Lines 17-18

• Lines 19-20

• Lines 27-28

• Lines 29-30

Which best expresses the theme of the poem?

• Be careful of your surroundings.

• Cherish each day while you have it.

• Listen to your parents.

• Racism is everywhere.

Which line best develops the theme?

• "She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair, and bathed rose petal sweet/And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands, and white shoes on her feet."

• "For when she heard the explosion, her eyes grew wet and wild."

• "O here's the shoe my baby wore, but, baby, where are you?"

• "But that smile was the last smile to come upon her face."

How does stanza 6 contribute to the plot?

• It develops the setting.

• It gives the last dialogue between the mother and her daughter.

• It emphasizes the message of the poem.

• It gives the turning point of the poem.

How does the mother's response to hearing the explosion (in stanza 7) contribute to the conflict?

• It shows the resolution.

• It adds drama and emotion to the tension.

• It conveys a character vs. character conflict.

• It is the first hint to the reader of the conflict.

What does the phrase "sacred place?" mean in line 22?

• a lonely setting

• a destroyed place

• a holy site

• heaven

What emotions are best expressed in the last stanza of the poem?

• desperation and sadness

• hope and excitement

• guilt and grief

• confusion and relief