"The Hollow" Test

Which two lines of the poem "The Hollow" suggest that the speaker is at ease?

• A. I told myself I would be alright, (line 21)

• B. Because there are no ghosts, of course. (line 24)

• C. When I recalled the legends I had been told, (line 3)

• D. I was going where no one should, (line 7)

• E. The headless horseman I hope not to see, (line 19)

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

Read lines 1-4 of the poem.

 

The October night was dark and cold,

As the autumn sun was going down,

When I recalled the legends I had been told, 

About this sleepy, little town.

 

 

What is the significance of the allusion to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow in lines 3 and 4?

• A.  The legend is symbolic of the speaker's imagination.

• B. The legend is a reference to the dark time of slavery.

• C. The legend refers to a soldier who was struck by lightning and killed.

• D. The legend represents the haunting mystery of the headless horseman.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Read this quotation from the poem.

The headless horseman I hoped not to see (line 19)

The most likely reason the speaker refers to the “headless horseman” is to —

• A. add to the feeling of suspense

• B. make the situation seem fanciful

• C. describe the hollow in a lighthearted way

• D. shift the setting from a graveyard to a bridge

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.4

When I recalled the legends I had been told, 

About this sleepy, little town.

There were tales about the haunted woods,

They say the wind seems to call your name,

I was going where no one should, 

And if I survived, I'd never be the same.

 

 

Which two sentences best explain how the poet uses literary devices in these lines?

• A. The poet uses onomatopoeia to create a sound effect that imitates the bird.

• B. The poet uses hyperbole to suggest that he/she will not survive.

• C. The poet uses personification to make the wind seem spooky.

• D. The poet uses a simile to compare the darkness to a nightmare.

• E. The poet uses allusion to refer to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

How does the poet’s use of descriptive language contribute to the mood of the poem?

• A. It establishes a dream-like setting.

• B. It creates a feeling of terror and fright.

• C. It adds a note of confusion to the text.

• D. It helps to relieve tension and suspense.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

Which inference about the speaker does the second stanza best support?

• A. The speaker lacks courage.

• B. The speaker is determined to change.

• C. The speaker tends to take foolish risks.

• D. The speaker is influenced by scary stories.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Based on the ending of the poem, what message does the poet most likely want to convey?

 

• A. There is no way to escape your fate.

• B. Home is where the heart is.

• C. The only thing to fear is fear itself.

• D. Nature is more powerful than people.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A (#8). Then, answer Part B (#9).

Part A:

What is the theme of the poem?

• A. The headless horseman is not real and is only a myth.

• B. Never listen to old stories told by old people.

• C. It's okay to take risks even if it seems a little scary.

• D. Don't go into the woods alone at night.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Part B:

Which line from the poem best supports the answer to Part A (#8?

• A. There were tales about the haunted woods, (line 5)

• B. When I recalled the legends I had been told, (line 3), About this sleepy, little town. (line 4)

• C. The headless horseman I hoped not to see, (line 19)

• D. I was going where no one should (line 7), And if I survived, I'd never be the same. (line 8)

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

How does the last stanza affect the meaning of the poem?

• A. It concludes the poem on an uncertain note.

• B. It exposes the danger lurking in the woods.

• C. It shows there is a good reason to be afraid.

• D. It suggests that nothing scary will happen.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.7.4