Analyzing Poetry in Historical Context

What poetic device is primarily used in the line "Her eyes grew wet and wild" from "Ballad of Birmingham"?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Alliteration

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What historical event does "Ballad of Birmingham" reference?

• The signing of the Civil Rights Act

• The Montgomery Bus Boycott

• The Birmingham Church Bombing

• Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which theme is most prominent in "Ballad of Birmingham"?

• The innocence of youth

• The impact of violence

• The power of hope

• The importance of family

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the imagery in "Ballad of Birmingham" contribute to the poem's overall impact?

• It creates a sense of hope and optimism.

• It highlights the contrast between innocence and violence.

• It emphasizes the beauty of the church.

• It distracts from the poem's historical context.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What does the church symbolize in "Ballad of Birmingham"?

• Safety and sanctity

• The center of the Civil Rights Movement

• A place of inevitable tragedy

• The loss of innocence

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which poetic device is used in the title "Ballad of Birmingham"?

• Metaphor

• Alliteration

• Onomatopoeia

• Symbolism

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

How does the dialogue between the mother and daughter contribute to the poem's theme?

• It shows the generational gap in understanding racial violence.

• It emphasizes the mother's wisdom and foresight.

• It illustrates the innocence and vulnerability of the child.

• Both B and C are correct.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What effect does the use of the ballad form have on the reader's understanding of the poem?

• It makes the poem more difficult to understand.

• It emphasizes the narrative and storytelling aspect.

• It detracts from the historical significance.

• It adds a musical quality that lightens the mood.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which line from "Ballad of Birmingham" contains an example of alliteration?

• "For the dogs are fierce and wild,"

• "And marched the streets of Birmingham,"

• "She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,"

• "The mother smiled to know her child"

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.12

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What does the mother's refusal to let her child join the freedom march symbolize?

• The generational divide in approaches to activism

• The pervasive fear in the African American community

• The protective instincts of a parent

• All of the above

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2