What if We Were Alone

Stafford repeats the words "What if" in the title of the poem and in lines 1, 2, and 3. What is the

effect of the repetition of these words?

• It prompts the reader to ponder the existence of stars.

• It suggests that the poet doubts the truth of scientific facts.

• It emphasizes the idea that humans are alone in the universe.

• It establishes the rhythmical pattern used throughout the poem.

How does the poet establish the mood in the first stanza of the poem?

• He mentions the sun to create a cheery mood.

• He uses a fictional quote to create a suspenseful mood.

• He asks a series of questions to create a reflective mood.

• He suggests that the sun and the earth are alone to create a gloomy mood.

Read the quote from lines 6–7 of the poem.

. . . “Look—it is out there,

a hint of whether we are everything.”

What is the effect of the dash in this line?

• It calls attention to the idea that space may have the answer to the questions asked.

• It proposes alternate ideas about finding solutions through exploration.

• It draws attention to the effect of exploration on the environment.

• It suggests that there is nothing beyond this world.

Read lines 8–10.

Look out at the stars. Yes—cold

space. Yes, we are so distant that

the mind goes hollow to think it.

What theme is suggested by these lines?

• Things that look like fire can still be cold.

• Space is too big a topic for people to think about.

• Human beings want to feel connected to the universe.

• People are as isolated from each other as they are from stars.

Read the second stanza of the poem. Which statement best explains how the poet’s word

choices contribute to the mood?

• Beckons and beyond create a curious and adventuresome mood.

• Cold and hollow create a lonesome and unfeeling mood.

• Yes and glittering create a cheerful and celebratory mood.

• Stars and limits create a dark and fearful mood.

Read lines 11–12.

But something is out there. Whatever

our limits, we are led outward. We glimpse

What is the effect of the line break at the end of line 11?

• It suggests that human beings have yet to reach our full potential.

• It emphasizes the idea that we don’t fully understand what is out there.

• It expresses acceptance of the fact that humans are alone in the universe.

• It conveys the idea that people can’t comprehend the distance between stars.

The shift in topic at the beginning of the last stanza makes the mood of the poem —

• less serious

• less thoughtful

• more frightening

• more mysterious

Which phrase best states the poet’s purpose in the last stanza?

• To persuade the reader to listen quietly instead of looking at the stars

• To show the reader an answer to the question from the first stanza

• To lead the reader to contemplate the wonders of the natural world

• To surprise the reader by changing the setting of the poem

How can the reader tell this is a free verse poem?

• It uses end rhymes.

• Every line is the same length.

• It uses figurative and sensory language.

• The language and rhythm sound like normal speech.

Stafford’s poem is divided into three stanzas. Describe the central image in each one,

using details from the poem to support your response.