WorksheetsDump & How Things Work
Total questions: 12
Worksheet time: 6mins
What does the speaker in “Dump” mean by “discarded hopes” (line 9)?
things that people don’t have enough space to store
things people bought that disappointed them
things that remind people of unpleasant events
things that people regret having thrown away
What image is created by the form of “Dump”?
a tall pile of things that have been discarded
a long journey undertaken by the speaker
a dialogue between two people
a long list of items the speaker wants
What does the speaker in “Dump” mean by “our lightened living room” (line 22)?
The room has been emptied of the things that he took to the dump.
He will be happy to get away from the dump and back to his living room.
The room will be brighter by the time he gets home.
The room will seem light in comparison to the clutter at the dump.
Which lines in “Dump” contain a metaphor?
“Paintings eternally stale / That, hung, remained aloof,” (lines 15–16)
“The acrid smell of trash / Arises like perfume.” (lines 23–24)
“Maneuvering steep stairs / of bedsprings to our car,” (lines 25–26)
“We stumble on homecanned pears / grown poisonous in their jar” (lines 27–28)
What does the speaker in “Dump” mean by the lines “Our emptiness may rankle / but soon it too shall pass” (lines 31–32)?
We will get over our desire to accumulate things.
We will buy new things to fill up our emptiness.
We will soon forget all about our experience at the dump.
We will bring home some of the things from the dump.
The speaker in “How Things Work” is addressing
his wife.
a waitress.
shoppers.
his daughter.
In “How Things Work,” what is the speaker saying about the things he buys?
He buys things only for other people.
He doesn’t really need the things that he buys.
Each thing he buys helps another person buy something.
The things he buys cost too much.
Which lines from “How Things Work” contain a simile?
“The tip I left / for the waitress filters down / Like rain, . . . “ (lines 5–7)
“Perhaps, a belligerent cat that won’t let go / Of a balled sock . . .” (lines 8–9)
“As far as I can tell, daughter, it works like this:” (line 10)
“Tickets to a movie in which laughter / Is thrown into their faces.” (lines 14–15)
What is the effect of the final words “I guess” in “How Things Work”?
They show that the speaker has not been serious about what he has said.
They emphasize what the speaker has said earlier in the poem.
They contribute to the rhythm of the poem.
They show that the speaker has doubts about what he has said.
In what way are the two poems alike?
Both have a regular rhyme scheme.
Both include a listing of items.
Both have four stanzas.
Both use a question-and-answer structure.
Which words/phrases from Dump best convey the speaker's feelings of emptiness and disappointment?
"beds without a dreamer"
"lamp that no hand lights"
"Roof shingles bought on sale"
Which poem had a more attitude toward consumerism?
"Dump" because the speaker said our emptiness will pass.
"How Things Work" because the speaker seems to believe that the money he is spending is benefiting others.
