Mother to Son Poem

Who is the speaker in the poem "Mother to Son"?

• The mother

• The daughter

• The son

• The father

In the poem, whom is the speaker addressing and about what?

• A mother is telling a story to her child about her own childhood.

• A mother is describing for her son the climb up a crystal staircase.

• A son us recounting a conversation with his mother about his struggle to earn a comfortable living.

• A mother is warning her son about the difficulties of life and the struggle to presevere.

Which of the following best explains the significance of the staircase in the poem?

• The narrator describes a tiring climb up a beat-up staircase which represents her persistence through difficulties and challenges in life.

• The narrator describes a crystal staircase, which symbolizes her goals and the hard work she has done to accomplish her dreams.

• The narrator describes her climb up a dirty staircase that transforms into a crystal stair, which represents her ability to rise above difficulties.

• The narrator describes herself going down a staircase that is falling apart, which represents her fleeing a difficult life.

PART B: Which of the following quotes best supports the answer to Part A?

• "Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." (lines 1-2)

• "It's had tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on the floor--/ Bare." (lines 3-7)

• "I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners" (lines 9-11)

• "So boy, don't you turn back. / Don't you set down on the steps / 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. / Don't you fall now- / For I'se still goin', honey" (lines 14-18)

Which of the following statements best describes a major theme of the poem?

• Never forget your family

• Presevere when life isn't easy

• Hope is the answer to all challenges

• Respect your elders

What is the central metaphor utilized in the poem "Mother to Son?"

• The narrator describes a tiring climb up a beat-up staircase, which represents her  persisting through difficulties and struggles in life.

• The narrator compares a crystal staircase to her own life, symbolic of her own goals and the struggle towards them.  

• The narrator describes her climb up a dirty staircase which transforms into a crystal  stair, which represents her ability to rise above difficulties. 

• The narrator describes herself going down a decrepit staircase, a figurative depiction of  her continued problems.

Which excerpt from the poem best captures the speaker's message to her son?

• "Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." (Lines 1-2)

• "It's had tacks in it, / And splinters, / And boards torn up, / And places with no carpet on  the floor — / Bare." ( Lines 3-7) 

• "I'se been a-climbin' on, / And reachin' landin's, / And turnin' corners" ( Lines 9-11) 

• "So boy, don't you turn back. / Don't you set down on the steps / 'Cause you finds it's  kinder hard. / Don't you fall now — / For I'se still goin', honey" ( Lines 14-18)  

In the poem "Mother to Son," whom is the speaker addressing and about what?

• A mother is telling a story to her child about her own childhood.  

• A mother is speaking to her son about climbing a crystal staircase. 

• A son is recounting a conversation his mother had with him about the general struggle  towards earning a comfortable living.

• A mother is warning her son about the difficulties of life and the struggle to persevere.

Mother to Son

Which of the following statements best describes a major theme of the poem?

• Never forget your family.

• Persevere when life isn't easy. 

• Hope is the answer to all challenges. 

• Respect your elders.

Based on the poem, which of the following statements has evidence to prove that it  is true?

• She is a proud woman now, better than the previous generations of the past.

• The new generation of women will have to work harder than the women of the past.

• Men are better than women because they are generals and leaders in the military.

• Her mother's generation did whatever was necessary to improve future generations.