I Hear America Singing/I, Too

Part A: Which excerpt from Text 1, “I Hear America Singing,” best conveys its overall theme? (RL.10.2)

• “The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,” 

• “The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,” 

• “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to no one else,” 

• “The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly” 

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Part B: How does the idea of carols help develop the theme of Text 1? (RL.10.1)

• The beauty of America grows as each worker contributes his or her own carol. 

• As each American worker sings a new carol, he or she becomes more effective at his or her job. 

• As each carol is introduced, more opportunities open up for Americans. 

• The American worker grows more powerful as he shares his or her own carol.

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How does the structure of the poem "I Hear America Singing" contribute to its overall meaning? (RL.10.5)

• The gradual increase in line length accentuates the important role that women play in creating America’s strength. 

• The inconsistent line length emphasizes the novelty of each worker’s contribution to America. 

• The repeated references to songs develop the idea that each worker performs a similar function in American society. 

• The list of a wide variety of workers highlights the unique contribution each worker makes to America. 

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 How does the description of the songs as “strong” in Line 3 of Text 1 impact the meaning of the poem? (RL.10.4)

• It emphasizes the greatness of America, created through individual workers. 

• It highlights the joy that American laborers feel as they complete their daily tasks. 

• It reveals the belief that America is only powerful as long as each worker contributes. 

• It demonstrates a hope for a brighter future, felt by American laborers when they finish their work. 

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Part A: Which theme is conveyed in Text 2, Hughes’s poem? (RL.10.2)

• America must celebrate all of its members, not just a select group. 

• All people in America share similar experiences and lead similar lives. 

• Americans must make the effort to spend more time with their loved ones. 

• To Americans, health and happiness should be of greatest importance. 

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 Part B: Which excerpt from Text 2 best demonstrates this theme? (RL.10.1)

• I am the darker brother. 

• But I laugh,/And eat well, 

• Tomorrow,/ I’ll be at the table 

• I, too, am America. 

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 In Text 2, how does the shift in setting from the kitchen to the table in Stanza 2 to Stanza 3 mainly impact the poem? (RL.10.5)

• It reveals the speaker’s decision to develop deeper friendships. 

• It reflects the speaker’s determination and desire for progress. 

• It proves that the ideals and values of the nation have already changed. 

• It warns that humans must strive to make fewer demands of one another.

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Part A: In Stanza 2 and in Stanza 4 of Hughes’s poem, the speaker uses the word “they.” Who is the “they” that the speaker refers to? (RL.10.4)

• his family and friends 

• his enemies and rivals 

• people who are different from him 

• people who are from other countries 

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Part B: Why is it important that the speaker does not define exactly who “they” are? (RL.10.1)

• It protects the speaker’s relationships by not offending one specific group. 

• It keeps readers interested in the poem by maintaining their curiosity. 

• It holds the focus of the poem on its subject, which is the speaker himself. 

• It invites people everywhere to be part of the speaker’s concept of America.

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Choose TWO statements that explain how the point of view of the speaker of Text 1 compares or contrasts with that of Text 2. (RL.10.6)

• Whitman’s speaker speaks from a point of view of one who feels valued as an American, while Hughes’ speaker does not. 

• Whitman’s speaker mainly discusses the challenges of being an American, while Hughes’s speaker mainly discusses the benefits of being an American.

• Whitman’s speaker and Hughes’s speaker describe the lives of both American men and women. 

• Whitman’s speaker does not voice concerns about American life, Hughes’s speaker does. 

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