About the Author
How many poetry books did she write?
4 books
Who is the speaker observing in the poem?
Her daughter
Is Tracy K. Smith known for using cosmic imagery in her work?
Yes
What award did she win for her collection Life on Mars?
The Pulitzer Prize
What setting does most of the poem take place in?
The kitchen/dining table
What poetic movement is Smith NOT a part of: postmodernism, Harlem Renaissance, or contemporary realism?
Harlem Renaissance
What inspired much of the imagery in Life on Mars?
Her father’s work at NASA
What is one symbol used in the poem?
The title itself or a metal claw
What collection by Smith explores grief through the lens of outer space?
Life on Mars
What year was she born? 1970, 1971, 1972, or 1973?
1972
What is the symbolic meaning of the “metal claw”?
The daughter's disconnection from her mother.
Name one influence on Smith’s writing.
post civil rights, race, gender, family, identity, loss, memory, belonging, science
Which university did Smith attend for her MFA?
Columbia University
What tone best describes the speaker’s attitude in Dusk?
Sad and reflective, but also accepting.
Smith’s tone is often described as: a.) sarcastic, b.) celebratory, c.) reflective.
c.) reflective