Poetry & Nonfiction Test Review

How does Mother to Son reflect the influence of the Harlem Renaissance?

• It focuses on themes of perseverance and racial struggle, common in Harlem Renaissance literature.

• It highlights the ease of life for African Americans during the early 20th century.

• It avoids discussing race or personal experiences.

• It relies on European literary traditions rather than African American storytelling.

Which of the following best describes the tone of Mother to Son?

• Bitter and resentful

• Encouraging and determined

• Sarcastic and playful

• Detached and indifferent

What is a central theme of Mother to Son?

• The importance of wealth and social status

• The difficulties and perseverance required in life

• The need to avoid hardships by giving up early

• The struggle between parents and children

What literary device does Hughes use in the line, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair”?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Hyperbole

• Personification

What is the effect of the repetition of phrases such as “I’se been a-climbin’ on” and “I’se still climbin’”?

• It reinforces the mother’s perseverance and determination.

• It suggests that the mother is unsure of her message.

• It creates confusion in the poem’s meaning.

• It emphasizes the speaker’s physical struggles rather than emotional strength.

How does the free verse structure of Mother to Son contribute to its meaning?

• It mirrors the unpredictable and challenging nature of life.

• It follows a strict pattern to reflect the mother’s discipline.

• It creates a sing-song rhythm to make the poem sound lighthearted.

• It makes the poem difficult to understand.

Why does the mother compare life to a staircase?

• To emphasize the importance of wealth and social status.

• To illustrate the struggles and perseverance needed to succeed.

• To suggest that life is easy to navigate.

• To show that the speaker values architecture.

What is the significance of the mother’s advice to her son?

• She wants him to avoid working hard so he doesn’t face hardships.

• She is warning him that he will fail if he does not listen to her.

• She encourages him to keep pushing forward despite life’s difficulties.

• She suggests that life is only hard for her generation.

What method of development does Klinenberg primarily use to illustrate the importance of libraries in contemporary society?

• A. Cause and effect

• B. Narrative storytelling

• C. Compare and contrast

• D. Definition and classification

How does Klinenberg develop his argument about the necessity of library funding?

• By listing statistics and expert opinions to support his claims

• By comparing public libraries to private institutions

• By using emotional appeals without supporting evidence

• By emphasizing how libraries primarily function as book-lending services