From Behind a Covered Window

Which of these statements most closely summarizes the meaning of the first stanza?

Is there, out there, a sky
Sunny or windy or humid with autumn
A sky at dawn, or a sunset sky?

• The speaker is particularly interested in becoming a weatherman.

• The speaker believes it is autumn.

• The speaker uses nature metaphors to express his crisis over his social status.

• The speaker uses figurative language to contemplate the state of the world, from which he feels isolated.

What does the second stanza most likely reveal about the speaker?

Are there, out there, human faces
Strange or familiar
Happy or hurting
Friendly faces, or faces like beasts’?

Answer choices for the above question

• The speaker wonders how his looks will compare to the faces of others.

• The speaker compares human faces to those of beasts to demonstrate his animosity toward humanity.

• The speaker is concerned that he will not be accepted by others.

• The speaker uses the various appearances of “human faces” to articulate his curiosity about human nature as a whole.

What is most likely a central theme of the poem?

• isolation

• animals

• death

• hope

Which of these lines from the poem most strongly supports the central theme of isolation?

• “With no future, and no past?”

• “Friendly faces, or faces like beasts'?”

• “Is there only myself?”

• “That buries all flesh that once was beauty”

Match each inference to its corresponding lines from the poem.

“Is there, out there, a sky/Sunny or windy or humid with autumn” - (a)  

“Was it I who drew the curtains across the window?” - ​ (b)  

• “Is there, out there, a sky/Sunny or windy or humid with autumn”

• “Was it I who drew the curtains across the window?”

• Imagines what the outside world is like.
• believes he might be responsible for his lonelines

Tags

E2.4F

E2.5C

What inference can be made based on this line from the poem?

“Friendly faces, or faces like beasts'?”​ ​ ​

• The speaker uses figurative language to contemplate the inward characteristics of humanity.

• The speaker believes he might be responsible for his loneliness.

• The speaker imagines what the outside world is like.

• The speaker wonders if there is anything more than the current moment.

Tags

E2.4F

E2.5C

What inference can be made based on this line from the poem?

“Is there only this late afternoon?”

• The speaker believes he might be responsible for his loneliness.

• The speaker uses figurative language to contemplate the inward characteristics of humanity.

• The speaker wonders if there is anything more than the current moment.

• The speaker imagines what the outside world is like.

Tags

E2.4F

E2.5C