Mirror by Sylvia Plath

The poem shifts in the second stanza by — 

• revealing the mirror’s feelings of anger 

• exploring the godlike nature of the mirror  

• focusing on the woman’s reactions  

• comparing the light with the darkness

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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Which two sentences best express possible interpretations of the simile in the last two lines of the poem?

• The woman becomes more terrible each day. 

• The woman’s view of herself makes her grow older. 

• The woman loses a little bit more of her youth when she looks in the mirror. 

• The woman sees her image in the mirror move the same way a fish moves. 

• The woman’s view of her physical self grows more and more negative. 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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Which word best characterizes the speaker in the first stanza of the poem?

• Critical  

• Objective  

• Sympathetic  

• Annoyed 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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______ When turning to those liars, the candles or the moon in line 12, the woman — 

• avoids discovering her true self  

• recognizes her true identity  

• sees her true physical beauty  

• sees her true physical beauty  

  hopes to hear the truth about herself 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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______ The two short sentences in line 15 of the poem contribute to a tone of — 

• detachment  

• cynicism  

• sarcasm  

• earnestness 

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______ The poet uses the word drowned in line 17 to suggest — 

• the unavoidable passing of time  

• the eventual death of the girl  

• the woman’s acceptance of her aging  

   

   

• the woman’s sorrow at being alone

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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Which two statements best describe the structure of the poem?

• The poem emphasizes a steady beat.  

• The poem contains lines without a fixed meter.  

• The poem has a clear and regular rhyme scheme.  

• The poem maintains a strict syllabic count per line.  

• The poem is divided into two stanzas. 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.11

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What single idea is developed throughout the poem? Cite evidence from the poem to support your response. 

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This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
 

______ Part A: Which theme can the reader infer from lines 15–18? 

• Romantic love never lasts. 

• The truth is quickly uncovered. 

• People should reflect on the past. 

• Beauty fading is inevitable. 

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

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______ Part B:  before the highlighted text from the poem that best supports the answer to Part A. 

• I am important to her. She comes and goes. 

• Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness. 

•   in me an old woman/Rises toward her day after day,  

   

• like a terrible fish. 

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CCSS.RL.11-12.8

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