Letter From Home Introduction Quiz

Who is the persona (speaker in the poem)?

• Icarus the son

• His mother

• His father

• His sister

Answer explanation

“—Love, Mum” is evidence to show who the persona is

Your father says, don’t touch the sun.

Your gran knits sweaters one by one.

Your sister has your room.

The use of the word “your” is a kind of…

• Repetition

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Diction

Answer explanation

Repeated use of the same words means the literary device is Repetition

The use of the diction “please” in “Please send us postcards of the sky” shows that the TONE of the mother is…

• Sarcastic

• Rude

• Pleading

• Begging

Match the following according to what they mean to the son

• Do not be too ambitious or arrogant in life

• “Your father says dont touch the sun”

• Keep warm overseas

• “Your sister crouches at your windowsill”

• Your sister is waiting for you to come home

• “Your gran knits sweaters”

“Please send us postcards of the sky / and tell us if they’re really…”

(a)  

But still

no word? Is airmail postage much too steep?

What classes are you taking now?

And are you getting enough sleep?

Can you keep warm?

What is being repeated here?

• Rhyme

• Exclamation marks

• Pauses

• Question marks

Answer explanation

Repetition of question marks is a form of literary device used to convey worry and unease in this poem

“The budgies have stopped singing“

What is the atmosphere at home now that the son is studying overseas and not replying them?

• Gloomy

• Optimistic

• Frightening

• Jovial

What do you think the image “We lit a candle for you, and it drips

and flickers-“ means in the poem? How does the persona feel about the son not replying?

Answer explanation

The persona feels sad that the son has not been replying to her letters and she thinks of the candles dripping at home as a sign of bad news- that maybe something bad has happened to Icarus and he cannot respond because of that

In “You’ve left the nest

Empty, but it’s for the best.”

Why do you think it’s good to “leave the nest” and travel to study overseas in your opinion?

Answer explanation

Widen horizons and perspectives by learning different cultures. We can also get to experience different education systems and how to live independently away from our family.

If you could travel to any country and study there, where would you go and why? Give 2 reasons.