Mother to Son

In lines 15-16, the speaker says "Don't you set down on the steps/'Cause you finds it's kinder hard." This is an example of dialect that Hughes uses throughout the poem. What do these lines mean?

• Don't step on the stairs because you'll fall through the boards.

• Don't sit down on the steps because it's not a kind thing to do.

• Don't set anything down on the steps if you feel tired.

• Don't sit down on the steps if you feel tired

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Which of the following statements best explains the metaphor that Hughes is using in the poem?

• The speaker describes herself climbing up a difficult and dangerous staircase, which is a figurative depiction of her ongoing struggles in life.

• The speaker describes herself climbing up a beautiful and crystal staircase, which is symbolic of her own goals and the struggle towards them.

• The speaker describes herself climbing up a poorly-kept staircase which transforms into a crystal one, which represents her ability to rise about difficulties.

• The speaker describes herself going down a difficult and dangerous staircase, which is a figurative depiction of her continued problems.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

Which of the pieces of evidence best support that the mother's ideas about life & advice to her son are "to keep going, no matter what struggles you face"?

• "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." (2)

• "Don't you set down on the steps/'Cause you finds it's kinder hard." (15-16)

• "...sometimes goin' in the dark/Where there ain't been no light." (12-13)

• "It's had tacks in it" (3)

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Which of the following best describes who the speaker is, who is being spoken to, and what is being discussed in the poem?

• a mother telling a story to her son about her own childhood

• a mother giving advice to her son about the difficulties in life

• a narrator telling the story of a mother and son

• a mother telling her son what needs to be repaired in their house

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RL.6.2

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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 turning' 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)

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

In "Mother to Son," how does the imagery of the staircase contribute to the overall theme of the poem?

• It highlights the physical fitness required to overcome life's challenges.

• It serves as a backdrop for the mother's tales of her youth.

• It symbolizes the various obstacles and difficulties faced in life.

• It represents the upward social mobility achievable through hard work.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

The speaker says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair" (Line 20). Give an example of a crystal staircase in this context--figuratively speaking.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

What is the tone of the poem "Mother to Son"?

• Hopeful

• Pessimistic

• Indifferent

• Angry

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What literary device is used when the mother says, "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair"?

• Onomatopoeia

• Alliteration

• Metaphor

• Irony

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

What type of figurative language is primarily used in "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes to convey the struggles and experiences of life?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Hyperbole

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

CCSS.RL.9-10.9