Mother to Son Poem

Suspect

Speaker

Stanza

Strategy

Actor

Analyze

Attitude

Awesome

Tone and Theme

Topic

Theme

Topic and Theme

The mother

The daughter

The son

The father

Negative

Positive

Negative and Positive

Neither

Crystal Stairs

Life

Light

Dark

A mother is telling a story to her child about her own childhood.

A mother is describing for her son the climb up a crystal staircase.

A son us recounting a conversation with his mother about his struggle to earn a comfortable living.

A mother is warning her son about the difficulties of life and the struggle to presevere.

The narrator describes a tiring climb up a beat-up staircase which represents her persistence through difficulties and challenges in life.

The narrator describes a crystal staircase, which symbolizes her goals and the hard work she has done to accomplish her dreams.

The narrator describes her climb up a dirty staircase that transforms into a crystal stair, which represents her ability to rise above difficulties.

The narrator describes herself going down a staircase that is falling apart, which represents her fleeing a difficult life.

Never forget your family

Presevere when life isn't easy

Hope is the answer to all challenges

Respect your elders

"Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." (lines 1-2)

"It's had tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on the floor--/ Bare." (lines 3-7)

"I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners" (lines 9-11)

"So boy, don't you turn back. / Don't you set down on the steps / 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. / Don't you fall now- / For I'se still goin', honey" (lines 14-18)