Half Hanged Mary by Margaret Atwood

What is the primary theme of "Half Hanged Mary" by Margaret Atwood?

• a) The power of forgiveness

• b) The resilience of the mind

• c) The cruelty of society to the vulnerable

• d) The inevitability of suffering

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In the poem, "Half Hanged Mary" alludes to which historical event or situation?

• a) The Salem Witch Trials

• b) The American Civil War

• c) The Great Depression

• d) The Industrial Revolution

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CCSS.RL.11-12.10

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How does the speaker describe the men's reaction to Mary's ordeal?

• a) They express sympathy and support.

• b) They are indifferent and uninvolved.

• c) They celebrate her innocence.

• d) They find perverse joy in her suffering.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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What does the poem suggest about the impact of Mary's experience on her sense of self and identity?

• a) Mary loses her sense of self entirely.

• b) Mary's sense of self remains unchanged.

• c) Mary's sense of self is strengthened.

• d) Mary's sense of self becomes fragmented.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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The overall tone of the poem "Half Hanged Mary" can best be described as:

• a) Joyful and celebratory

• b) Resigned and defeated

• c) Mysterious and ambiguous

• d) Defiant and determined

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What is the significance of the title "Half Hanged Mary"?

• a) Mary was only partly responsible for her situation.

• b) Mary's punishment was not as severe as it could have been.

• c) Mary was only partially believed to be a witch.

• d) Mary survived a hanging but remains scarred.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.10

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"Half Hanged Mary" reflects the themes of power, resilience, and survival by:

• a) Demonstrating the power of compassion over the individual.

• b) Illustrating Mary's ability to exact revenge on her accusers.

• c) Highlighting how Mary's resilience enables her to overcome her suffering physically if not mentally.

• d) Depicting a society where the powerful never triumph over the powerless.

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In the section 8pm, first stanza, what is the effect of the word "improvisation" in the phrase "The rope was an improvisation" on the tone and mood of the passage?

• a) It creates a sense of chaos and uncertainty.

• b) It conveys a feeling of careful planning.

• c) It suggests a feeling of preparedness.

• d) It evokes a sense of celebration.

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In the section 10pm, first stanza, the line "with maybe some time to kill" suggests that the speaker:

• a) Is hopeful and optimistic

• b) Is resigned to her fate

• c) Has a sense of humor and irony

• d) Is determined to escape

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In section 10 pm, third stanza, the reference to "three dead angels falling like meteors" in the passage serves as a simile for the decline of:

• a) The speaker's physical condition

• b) Hope, faith, and charity

• c) The stars in the night sky

• d) The power of prayer

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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