Hanging Fire Poem

In “Hanging Fire,” where is the speaker’s mother?

• at a dance party

• at a school contest

• behind a closed door

• in the baby's nursery

In “Hanging Fire,” what does the speaker think about? Choose three

• dying

• vacation

• wearing braces

• the boy she likes

• failing a test

What is the best way to describe the speaker in “Hanging Fire”?

• hopeful

• determined

• lonely and overwhelmed

• enthusiastic and outspoken

Why is “Hanging Fire” considered a lyric poem?

• It tells a true story about the poet.

• It is a poem that can easily be set to music.

• It shares facts about the life of a modern-day teenager.

• It presents a focused, powerful impression of its speaker.

In "Hanging Fire,” the lines “and momma’s in the bedroom / with the door closed” are repeated. How does the repetition serve the purpose of a lyric poem?

• It furthers the plot of the poem.

• It hides the poet’s powerful feelings.

• It creates a vivid and constant impression.

• It emphasizes the mother as a strong character.

The speaker of “Hanging Fire” begins by saying, “I am fourteen / and my skin has betrayed me.” What does the choice of the word betrayed most likely indicate about the personality of the speaker?

• She does not trust people.

• She feels that life wants to trouble her.

• She cannot understand why she has problems.

• She wishes that she were something other than human.

Which statement presents a main way in which “Hanging Fire” and “Translating Grandfather’s House” are similar in theme?

• Both poems focus on the absence of a caring mother.

• Both poems focus on the frustrations of a teenager’s life.

• Both poems focus on the fears that people have about the future.

• Both poems focus on the difference between imagination and reality.

The etymology, or word origin, of graduation can be traced back to the Latin word gradus, meaning “step” or “grade.” Based on that information, choose the most likely meaning of this comment in “Hanging Fire.” suppose I die before graduation

• The speaker wonders whether anyone will remember her after she dies.

• The speaker wants to get good grades in her classes at school.

• The speaker fears that she may never progress in her life.

• The speaker feels sure that she will die soon.

In “Hanging Fire,” what does the poet imply by including the refrain and momma’s in the bedroom / with the door closed at the end of each stanza?

• The speaker thinks her mother is lonely.

• The speaker wants to open the door and surprise her mother.

• The speaker feels cut off from her mother and is lonely.

In “Hanging Fire,” the poet uses the image of the closed door —

• to suggest that the mother is angry with her daughter

• as a symbol of the isolation the daughter feels

• as a metaphor for the sympathy the daughter has for her mother

• to suggest that the mother would help if she had more time