"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.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

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.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

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.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

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.7.5

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.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

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.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

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.7.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

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.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

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.9-10.9

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.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5