I Hear America Singing and I, Too

What does "America" singing represent in the poem "I Hear America Singing" by Walt Whitman?

• The joy of American holidays

• The different types of work that people are doing to build America

• The natural landscapes of America

• The political freedom of America

Who is mentioned as singing while measuring his plank or beam in the poem?

• The mechanic

• The mason

• The boatman

• The carpenter

What is a mason?

• A person who makes jars

• A bricklayer

• A member of a tribe

• A deckhand

The wood-cutter's song associated with in terms of time of day?

• At noon intermission or sundown

• In the early morning

• During the busy workday

• At night

Whitman mentions women in three roles in the poem, mother, wife, and maid. How have the roles of women in America changed over time?

• Women's roles have remained the same over time

• Women's roles are not mentioned in the poem

• Women have moved into a more equal place with men in the workforce and in society

• Women's roles are limited to household activities

What is 1 group of people Whitman leaves out of the poem?

• The working class

• The rich

• Immigrants

In "I Hear America Singing", why do you think the speaker leaves out certain groups, such as the wealthy or political figures?

• They didn't participate in the actual building of America.

• The worked to hinder the project.

• They were loyal to England.

This chorus of voices rises up to describe the American people as different, yet sharing the same _____.

• job

• occupation

• background

• vision

By using workers from different occupations with different perspectives, Whitman allows American the readers of that time to see ________.

• themselves reflected in the poem

• another perspective of America

• that women are treated unfairly

• the unfair treatment of Blacks in America during that time

The act of singing often reflects ______, as this poem suggests, with the workers singing "strong melodious songs" rather than quiet, unassuming ones.

• silence

• hope

• sadness

• oppression