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

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.

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)

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

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)

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.

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.

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

• Hopeful

• Pessimistic

• Indifferent

• Angry

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

• Onomatopoeia

• Alliteration

• Metaphor

• Irony

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