On Turning Ten by Billy Collins

Who is the persona of the poem?

• Billy Collins

• A boy who is turning 10 years old

• A wise old man

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

Based on Stanza 1, do you think the persona likes the idea of turning 10 years old?

• Yes, because he gets to experience new diseases.

• Neutral. He's just telling us what he is feeling so far.

• Yes! He feels emotionally affected and sad over the fact that he is getting older.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.10

Based on Stanza 2, what is your impression of the persona?

Select the BEST option.

• He thinks a lot.

• He thinks that he is a wizard and a prince.

• He is imaginative.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.5

Based on Stanza 3, how do you think the persona is FEELING?

• He feels down and sad (about turning 10 years old).

• He feels tired.

• He feels like things are different now.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.5

In Stanza 3, the persona said that even "(his) bicycle never leaned against the garage / as it does today, / all the dark blue speed drained out of it".

What do you think he is emphasising?

• He is emphasising that his bicycle is getting old and probably needs to be replaced because the paint is fading away.

• He is emphasising that things are very different now that he's 10 years old, with a much lower level of energy, and even his bicycle reflects that.

• He is emphasising that he doesn't want to play with his bicycle anymore, and hence, the bicycle feels sad and blue.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.5

In Stanza 4, the persona says that 'it's the beginning of sadness'. Why do you think he feels that way?

• He is sad because it is time to say good-bye to (his) imaginary friends,

  and time to turn the first big number.

• He is sad because he can no longer be just a child. He will be expected to be mature and not have imaginary friends, which is a childish pursuit.

• He feels that way because he doesn't want to be 10 years old.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.11-12.11

Based on the LAST stanza, identify a METAPHOR.

• "there was nothing under my skin but light"

• If you cut me I could shine.

• "... when I fall upon the sidewalks of life"

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.8

CCSS.RL.8.5

Based on the poem as a whole, what is your impression of the persona?

Select ALL that applies.

• He seems to be quite mature and perhaps a bit too wise too.

• He is quite imaginative.

• He is quite a realist about life.

• He also seems to be a bit of a pessimistic person, the way he looks at life in general.

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