Analyzing Literary Elements and Themes

On the Shore

The punctual tide draws up the bay,
With ripple of wave and hiss of spray,
And the great red flower of the light-house tower
Blooms on the headland far away.

5 Petal by petal its fiery rose
Out of the darkness buds and grows;
A dazzling shape on the dim, far cape,
A beckoning shape as it comes and goes.

A moment of bloom, and then it dies
10 On the windy cliff 'twixt the sea and skies.
The fog laughs low to see it go,
And the white waves watch it with cruel eyes.

Then suddenly out of the mist-cloud dun,
As touched and wooed by unseen sun,
15 Again into sight bursts the rose of light
And opens its petals one by one.

Ah, the storm may be wild and the sea be strong,
And man is weak and the darkness long,
But while blossoms the flower on the light-house tower
20 There still is place for a smile and a song.

Read lines 5 and 6 from the poem.

Petal by petal its fiery rose / Out of the darkness buds and grows;

Explain what the author means by this metaphor. Cite other examples from the poem that support your interpretation.

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.10

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.7.5

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.8.5

Select the THREE sentences that are clues to the political background for the events in the text.

Which of the following contributes most to the author’s willingness to continue the journey to Kenya?

• A.

  Life in the Sudan is more dangerous for her than the journey.

• B.

  There are greater opportunities for her in the United States.

• C.

  She wants to live with her relatives in Omaha, Nebraska

• D.

  She is one of the oldest and has greater responsibility

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

Which word best describes the narrator in paragraph 2?

• A.

  grateful

• B.

  confident

• C.

  alone

• D.

  determined

Tags

CCSS.RL.6.6

CCSS.RL.7.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.1.6

CCSS.RL.5.6