Speech to the Young: Speech to the Progress-Toward

From the title of this poem, the reader can infer that the —

• speaker is an older person

• speech was written long ago

• speech was given at a school

• speaker has made many mistakes

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

What is the main theme of the poem?

• It is important to be cautious at all times.

• Life is too short to worry about the future.

• Life means different things to different people.

• Stay positive and don’t dwell on the past.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

The poet establishes an informal voice by using —

• a rigid structure

• frequent line breaks

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Read line 2 of the poem.

say to the down-keepers,

The poet is most likely referring to people who —

• do not think of the future

• struggle to succeed in life

• are discouraging to others

• believe life should be easy

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

Read lines 2–5 of the poem. The figurative language in these lines affects the
message of the poem by —

• drawing attention to those with negative outlooks

• drawing attention to examples of worrying behavior

• painting a vivid image of people that should be avoided

• painting a vivid image of how to address negative people

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

The reader can infer that the poet’s main purpose is to —

• show the importance of self-expression through poetry

• describe the serious problems life can bring

• prove how effective short poems can be

• encourage readers to be persistent

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

What is the central message presented in lines 10–11?

• Look to the past to learn how to live in the future.

• Do not focus too intensely on the past or the future.

• Be proud of your accomplishments, but do not dwell on them.

• Remember your mistakes, but do not allow them to hinder you.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

The repetition of the word live in the last three lines of the poem helps build a tone that is —

• anxious

• calm

• encouraging

• demanding

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

Which two elements of poetry does “Speech to the Young” use to convey ideas?

• Alliteration

• Repetition of sounds

• A consistent rhythm throughout

• A specific rhyming pattern

• Line breaks after complete sentences

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

Part A
What is the main purpose of lines 6–7 of the poem?

• They introduce an expert opinion.

• They contain the central message of the poem.

• They break up the poem so it is easier to understand.

• They are the words that the reader is meant to say aloud.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4