WorksheetsThank You Ma'am and Mother to Son
Total questions: 26
Worksheet time: 16mins
Who is the speaker of the poem?
Longfellow
Mother
Son
Hughes
Life is compared with _________.
A Crystal Stair
A Ladder
A Stage
A Wooden Stair
Based from the poem, what mood is most created?
Discouraging
Encouraging
Loving
Mesmerizing
Which of the following lines express advice?
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
The mother's tone is best described as ...
harsh
fearful
kind and firm
indifferent
The author says that "Life for me ain't been no crystal stair."
As it is used in this poem, what does "crystal" mean?
transparent and slippery
rough
beautiful and dangerous
clear and smooth
The 1st person POV helps the reader --
understand the struggles faced by the mom
empathize with the son
reflect on why the son is struggling
the mother and son's relationship
Which line from the poem reflects a lesson the speaker wants her son to learn?
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair
And places with no carpet on the floor
So boy, don’t you turn back
I’se still climbin’
Which lines from the poem best suggest that the speaker is persistent?
It’s had tacks in it,/And splinters,
And boards torn up,/And places with no carpet on the floor-
For I’se still goin’ honey,/I’se still climbin’,
‘Cause you finds it’s kinder hard./Don’t you fall now-
The extended metaphor of life being compared to a staircase helps the reader--
feel sorry for the struggling mother.
want a better life for the speaker’s son.
understand that the speaker’s life has been a constant struggle.
realize that the speaker feels as if her life will never get any better.
Who is the poem “Mother to Son” written by
Idris Elba
Langston Hughes
Frederick Douglas
Thomas Edison
All of the following are inferences that could be made about the speaker EXCEPT
She is hardworking
Her job is high paying
She is trying to encorage her son
She is likely received little education
How does the speaker's tone change throughout the poem?
From discouraging to positive
From joyful to depressing
From encouraging to negative
From optimistic to fearful
What does the speaker encounter on the stair?
Difficulties
Obstacles
Discrimination
All of the above
Does the poem has rhyme scheme?
Yes
No
Read line 2 from the poem
"Life for me ain't been no crystal stair."
The poet includes this metaphor most likely to:
Suggest life is not always easy
Help the reader imagine what crystal stairs look like
Suggest that life can is beautiful
Identify the speaker’s future
In “Mother to Son,” what lesson about life is the mother trying to teach her son?
Do not envy the people who have an easy path in life.
If you never give up, you will gain whatever you want in life.
No matter how hard you try, you will still not reach your goals.
Your life may be difficult, but never give up striving for your goals.
Part A In “Mother to Son,” what is the mother’s greatest fear for her son?
She fears that he will never have an easy life.
She fears that hardships will make him give up
She fears that he might be injured or killed.
She fears that lack of knowledge will hold him back.
Read the following lines from “Mother to Son.”
But all the time I’se been a-climbin’ on, And reachin’ landin’s, And turnin’ corners, And sometimes goin’ in the dark Where there ain’t been no light. (lines 8–13)
What do these details reveal most clearly about the mother? Choose two options.
She has sometimes failed and turned back
She has appreciated help given by other people.
She has been realistic about the challenges in her life.
She has always been confident about reaching her goals.
She has moved forward even when the future has been unclear.
Which quotation shows that the mother's greatest fear for her son is that hardships might make him give up?
And sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light. (lines 12–13)
Don’t you set down on the steps / ’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard. (lines 15–16)
lines 15–16) c. For I’se still goin’, honey, / I’se still climbin’…. (lines 18–19)
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. (line 20)
At both the beginning and the end of the poem the mother says, “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.”
What does the crystal stair most clearly symbolize for the mother? Choose two options.
It is an easy life of wealth and luxury
It is a life in which a person must be careful not to slip and fall.
It is a smooth, clear path to achieving one’s goals.
It is a life of selfishness and not caring about others.
It is a life of dedication to helping others less fortunate
The mother describes a wooden staircase in these words.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up…. (lines 3–5)
What do the tacks, splinters, and torn-up boards most likely symbolize in the poem?
problems that the son has caused his mother
obstacles that threatened to hold the mother back
weaknesses that are common in wooden staircases
challenges that the mother’s lack of courage has caused her
How does the speaker describe her life in the first seven lines?
as a luxurious and beautiful staircase
as difficult and painful climb
As flawless and without pain
As a bizarre, or strange, spiral staircase
What would it be like to climb a strange stair case “in the dark”?
Sad and devastating
Boring and unexciting
Exciting and adventurous
Frightening and confusing
Walking on torn up boards can be dangerous. What would be the torn up boards you encounter in life?
The people who prevent you from reaching your goal
The handicap/weakness life gives you that you have to overcome
Both choices above
