Heart

What does the speaker mean when they say the heart is “neither red / nor sweet”?

• The heart is not attractive or desirable.

• The heart is not what people typically imagine it to be.

• The heart is unimportant in human life.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Why does the poet describe the heart as a “thick clutch of muscle”?

• To emphasize its emotional nature.

• To suggest it is lifeless and unimportant.

• To highlight its vulnerability.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What does the speaker mean by “there’s no key”?

• The heart is impossible to understand.

• The speaker cannot easily share their feelings.

• The speaker has lost the ability to love.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What does the word “mute” in line 16 suggest about the heart?

• It cannot express emotions directly.

• It has no purpose.

• It is too loud to be understood.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the group of cells in the heart that controls how fast your heart beats called?

• Septum

• Aorta

• Pacemaker

• Valve

How does the poet challenge traditional ideas about the heart?

• By saying it is not emotional.

• By describing it as purely physical and realistic.

• By rejecting the idea of love entirely.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

What is the significance of the phrase “dull tattoo”?

• It suggests the heart’s steady rhythm.

• It represents the heart’s pain.

• It shows the speaker’s desire to be loved.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What does the line “but I can’t open it” suggest?

• The speaker is unable to share their emotions freely.

• The heart is physically closed off.

• The heart is broken and cannot be repaired.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Why does the poet end with “but you’ll have to take me, too”?

• To show that love requires total acceptance.

• To emphasize the heart’s selfish nature.

• To highlight the heart’s independence.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What does the poet’s rejection of clichés about the heart add to the poem?

• It makes the poem humorous.

• It allows for a deeper and more realistic exploration of emotions.

• It confuses the reader.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9