Story
What is the story of the Poem? What does it describe?
The Poem describes how humans have killed a beautiful turtle without understanding it's importance.
What is the Primary (main) message of the Poem?
A) The destruction of the environment caused by human intervention
B) The migration patterns of sea turtles
C) The spiritual connection between humans and nature
D) The role of the Gulf in human economic activities
A) The destruction of the environment caused by human intervention
What technique does the Poet (author) use the most in the Poem?
A) Irony
B) Imagery
C) Flashback
D) Personification
B) Imagery - to make the reader imagine or picture in their mind the situation being described by the author
What is the meaning of "Exhaled"
To breathe air out
What is the meaning of the word "Trespasses"
To commit a crime or bad action against someone - cause harm or damage
What does the "Man from British Petroleum" do when he killed the turtle?
He smiled
What is the tone (attitude/feeling of the author) of the Poem?
The tone set by the author is a feeling of loss and seeking forgiveness for the actions of humans who have destroyed nature.
What is the Turtle AND the Turtle's death a symbol of in the Poem?
The turtle symbolises the important part of nature - it's death symbolises the damage humans cause.
What is the meaning of "British Petroleum"
Petroleum - Oil used for cars
An oil company "Shell" "BP (British Petroleum)" "Sinopec" "uSmile" "Total"
What is the meaning of the word "Mosaic"?
Mosaic - artwork, pictures or patterns made of small pieces such as the shell of the turtle being made of lots of plates.
What does the Poet ask the turtle at the end of the poem?
To forgive humans for doing something they should not have done.
Why does the Author describe the Turtle as having "no part of you simple or meaningless"
To give importance to the life of the turtle
What is the "Gulf" a symbol of in the Poem?
The gulf is a small symbol of the larger world and environment - nature
What is the meaning of "Prominently"
Something given a role of importance or significance.
Example: "She played the prominent character in the movie as an actress."
Why does the Poet (author) describe the Turtle using the words "Old Great Mother"?
Old great mother makes the turtle sound wise and worthy of our respect, it also makes the death of the turtle feel like we have lost something important.
What is the Poet (author) describing when she says "Claw, Flipper and Plastron"
The body of the Turtle
How does the poem portray the relationship between humans and the natural world?
A) As a mutually beneficial and harmonious connection
B) As a struggle between exploitation and protection
C) As a tragic and irreversible destruction
D) As a peaceful coexistence with no interference
B) As a struggle between exploitation and protection
What does the image of the turtle symbolize in the poem?
A) The inevitability of death
B) The fragility of life and the struggle for survival
C) The resilience of human beings
D) The power of human industry
B) The fragility of life and the struggle for survival
(Bonus points if you tell me the meaning of the word "FRAGILITY")
What is the meaning of the word "exploitation"
To take advantage of something usually in a negative or bad way
Why does the Poet (Author) use the words "Burned" "Torched" and "Pained" to describe the death of the turtle.
To show that the human's actions have violently destroyed nature and caused great pain.
What is the "Bin of death" ?
The Ocean polluted with Oil
What message is Linda Hogan trying to convey about environmental conservation in her poem?
A) That human technology can solve environmental problems
B) That the survival of species depends on human intervention
C) That humans must recognize their responsibility to protect the Earth
D) That nature will eventually recover on its own
C) That humans must recognize their responsibility to protect the Earth
When the Poet (author) describes the Turtle the same way as a human with feelings and intelligence, what literacy technique is she using?
Personification - the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something non-human
What is the meaning of the term "Co-existing"
For two people or living things to live peacefully together
What does the Poet (author) mean when she describes the ocean as "full of splendor and light"?
Magnicifient - magic - full of life and goodness