The Blind Men & The Elephant

Which of the following best summarizes a central THEME of the text?

• In order to understand something entirely, it must be viewed from different perspectives.

• Learning is not a noble pursuit if it only leads to controversy and debate.

• Comedy can teach people how to see themselves clearly.

• Nature is designed to confuse and frighten mankind.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the following BEST supports the theme of the text?

• "It was six men of Indostan / To learning much inclined"

• "Who went to see the Elephant / Though all of them were blind"

• "And so these men of Indostan / Disputed loud and long, / Each in his own opinion / Exceeding stiff and strong"

• "Though each was partly in the right / They all were in the wrong!"

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

How does the speaker play with the meaning of the word "blind" in the poem?

• He uses the word "blind" to describe the men's physical blindness, but also their ignorance of basic ideas because of their focus on academia and becoming scholars.

• He uses the word "blind" to describe the men's physical blindness, but also their lack of attunement to and respect of nature.

• He uses the word "blind" to describe the men's physical blindness, but also their introspective blindness - for the men know little about themselves and others.

• He uses the word "blind" to describe the men's physical blindness, but also their inability to recognize bigger things because of their preoccupation with the smaller things.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which of the following best describes the overall TONE of the poem?

• Suspicious, as the speaker relates that the men seem guarded about what they sense.

• Playful, as the speaker recounts the men's comedic attempts to understand an elephant.

• Mocking, as the speaker criticizes the men for their failed attempt to see an elephant.

• Angry, as the speaker describes the men arguing over what the elephant looks like.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.5

How does the poem's structure contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

• By providing stanzas with each blind man's experience with the elephant, the author is suggesting that having arguments can allow people to achieve more knowledge and understanding.

• By including a repetitive rhyme scheme, the author is able to emphasize how absurd the men sound as they argue.

• By providing stanzas with each blind man's experience with the elephant, the author is able to emphasize that individual perspectives must be pieced together to provide a whole picture.

• By including a repetitive rhyme scheme, the author is suggesting that these men will continue to repeat their mistakes for the rest of their days.

Tags

CCSS.RL.5.2

CCSS.RL.5.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2