Sugar Section 1

Think about the text "Sugar Cane" by Grace Nichols to answer questions 1–3.

What is the theme of the poem?

• Sugarcane is oppressed by natural disasters, in the same way enslaved

  people were oppressed by their enslavers.

• With hard work all adversity can be overcome.

• Sometimes adversity in life is so great that it cannot be overcome

• All things grow and change over time

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

How does Nichols use personification to develop the theme of the poem?

•  Nichols uses personification to illustrate the struggles enslaved people face and overcome.

• Nichols uses personification to illustrate how people who are enslaved remain hopeful as they grow tall and strong.

• Nichols use personification to illustrate the anger of enslaved people towards their oppressive enslaver.

•  Nichols uses personification to illustrate how enslaved people continuously face obstacles and oppression that cannot be overcome.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Read the excerpt and answer the question:

“and when he

growing tall

 

with the help

of the sun

and rain

 

we feel the

need to strangle

the life

out of him

 

But either way he cannot survive”

What does the excerpt reveal about Grace Nichols's attitude toward slavery?

• Nichols believes that people who are enslaved are given an opportunity to thrive while working in the sugarcane fields.

• Nichols believes that farmers act too violently in harvesting sugarcane.

• Nichols believes that natural disasters make the work of enslaved people more difficult.

• Nichols believes enslaved people working on sugarcane plantations are in a hopeless situation. 

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Review the image Cane Cutting Scene, then answer the question that follows.

What evidence from the painting supports the inference that the artist believes slavery is harmonious?

• A.  The cabin where enslaved people are kept against their will is in good condition and surrounded by sugarcane fields and ducks.

• The enslaved people are working together in a beautiful and peaceful field.

• The people are completing their tasks.

• The weather is pleasant and the sun is shining.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

CCSS.RL.9-10.7

What is poet's tone towards slavery in "Sugar Cane"?

• indignant

• empowered

• bewildered

• positive

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What is the artist's tone in the "Cane Cutting Scene" painting?

• indignant

• bewildered

• empowered

• harmonious

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.7

CCSS.RI.8.7

CCSS.RI.9-10.7

CCSS.RL.7.7

CCSS.RL.8.7

What does harmonious mean?

• negative

• peaceful

• angry

• selfish

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What does indignant mean?

• angry because of unfair treatment

• selfishness

• happy because of fair treatment

• without hope

Tags

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4