The Cruelest Journey and "The Journey"

1.) What message are the author of The Cruelest Journey and the author of “The Journey” most likely sending to readers?

• They should avoid danger to feel most alive.
• They should leave family behind when making choices.
• They should choose their own paths through the world.

2.)Why did the author most likely choose to include a map in The Cruelest Journey?

• To show how many countries she passed through
• To highlight the incredible distance she was traveling
• To explain the extreme dangers along the path of her journey

3.) Why does the author describe the effects of her journey in the last paragraph of The Cruelest Journey?

• To persuade readers to take the same journey
• To express how the journey has changed her
• To describe how her opinion of people has changed

4.)Read lines 6–7 of “The Journey.” though the whole house began to tremble Which sentence best describes the effect of the personification in these lines?

• It shows how the poem’s person arrives at her decision.
• It stresses how difficult the decision is for the person.
• It explains why the person goes on her journey.

5.) Read lines 8–9 of “The Journey.” and you felt the old tug at your ankles. The figurative language in these lines suggests that the person being addressed by the speaker of the poem —

• is tempted to go back to the way she used to do things
• is likely to have to restart her journey several times
• is unlikely to be able to complete her journey

6.) Which line of “The Journey” create images that suggest that the person in the poem faces obstacles on her journey?

• One day you finally knew / what you had to do, and began, (lines 1–2)
• and the road full of fallen / branches and stones. (lines 21–22)
• determined to do / the only thing you could do— (lines 33–34)

7.) Which two statements best describe the ways in which The Cruelest Journey and “The Journey” are similar?

• Both take place on a river.
• Both result in a new understanding.
• Both describe many dangerous moments.
• Both include difficult emotional moments.
• Both focus on images at night.

8.) from The Cruelest Journey: 600 Miles to Timbuktu is what type of literature?

• analytical essay
• travel writing
• persuasive essay

9.) Part A: What is a central theme of “The Journey”?

• Each person must chart his or her own path through life.
• People should take advice from those around them or they will regret it.
• It is better to be alone than to be in a crowd full of selfish people.

10.) Part B: Which excerpt from the poem best supports the theme in Part A?

• “It was already late / enough, and a wild night, / and the road full of fallen / branches and stones.” (lines 19–22)
• “. . . the stars began to burn / through the sheets of clouds . . .” (lines 25–26)
• “. . . and there was a new voice, / which was slowly / recognized as your own . . .” (lines 27–29)