On Turning Ten

Who is the persona of the poem?

• Billy Collins

• A boy who is turning 10 years old

• A wise old man

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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"

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.