Exploring Grief Through Metaphors

What does the metaphor “the safety belt a straightjacket” suggest about the narrator’s emotions?

• She feels physically restricted by the car seatbelt.

• She feels trapped and powerless in her grief.

• She believes her father is controlling her movements.

• She is overwhelmed by her mother’s absence but remains calm.

What does the metaphor “grief is a barnacle” convey about the narrator’s experience of loss?

• Grief is something she can easily remove.

• Grief is small and insignificant in her life.

• Grief is persistent and clings to her, making it difficult to let go.

• Grief is something that disappears over time on its own.

What does the narrator’s act of setting her watch to the correct time symbolize?

• Her desire to control every aspect of her life.

• Her acceptance of the passage of time and her evolving grief.

• Her belief that time moves too quickly to keep up with.

• Her resistance to change and longing to go back in time.

The shoes are described as having lost all grip. What does this symbolize?

• The narrator’s struggle to maintain balance in her life after her mother’s death.

• The poor quality of the shoes and their lack of durability.

• The way fashion trends change over time.

• The narrator’s dislike of the shoes.

Why does the narrator compare her father trailing her at the mall to a ghost?

• He moves without making a sound.

• His presence feels like a haunting reminder of their shared grief.

• He enjoys shopping but tries to stay unnoticed.

• He is physically weak and slow, like a ghost.

What does the father’s collection of old newspapers and flyers symbolize?

• His refusal to accept change and let go of the past.

• His financial struggles and need for bargains.

• His interest in reading and staying informed.

• His efforts to create a historical archive.

What does the image of the narrator’s hand wrapped around the shoe “like an old fish” suggest?

• The shoe is slippery and difficult to hold.

• The shoe is lifeless and decaying, much like grief can feel.

• The shoe has a strong, unpleasant odor.

• The narrator enjoys fishing and relates objects to fish.

Why does the narrator’s father say that grief “isn’t real”?

• He believes emotions are a choice.

• He is trying to comfort his daughter in a misguided way.

• He thinks grief is only experienced by children.

Why does the narrator feel a strange relief at the thought of the missing shoe being thrown away?

• She dislikes clutter and wants to get rid of unnecessary things.

• She sees it as a metaphor for releasing grief and no longer holding on.

• She doesn’t value the shoes as much as she thought.

• She believes her mother wouldn’t want her to keep them.

The air-conditioned room where the narrator plans to wear the shoes symbolizes:

• A place of emotional detachment where she can control her feelings.

• A reminder of her childhood home.

• Her desire to protect the shoes from being damaged.

• Her love for cold weather.