The Boy’s Perspective
This 13-letter word describes the sudden change from the boy's laughter to his "howls."
What is metamorphosed?
he father wears a "mask" to hide his feelings. This suggests his outer "grim" look is actually a _______.
What is a facade (or pretense)?
In the final line, "rain" is a metaphor for this physical action.
What is crying (or tears)?
The word "contorting" suggests the boy's face is doing this.
What is twisting (or distorting)?
Prompt: The boy thinks his father is a "cruel" monster, but the father actually wants to play with him. This "twist" is called _______.:
What is irony?
The boy's eyes are described as "swimming" and "splashing." This is an example of what kind of literary device?
Metaphor)
This adjective is used to describe how the boy's tears "scald" the father, suggesting they cause him deep emotional pain.
What is easy? ("easy tears")
The "quick slap struck" is described as being "empty of feeling." From whose perspective is this description written?
What is the child's perspective?
The "brief spite" in Stanza 1 suggests the boy is feeling this emotion toward his parent.
What is resentment/anger?
In the final line, the "rain" is a metaphor for the boy's tears. By telling him not to make a "plaything" of it, the father is warning him not to use his sadness as a way to ______ his parents.
What is manipulate (or control/trick)
In the second stanza, the boy views his father as this mythical, fairy-tale monster.
What is an ogre (or giant)?
The father longs to play "piggy-back" or this other game with the boy to stop his crying.
What is bull-fight?
True or False: The father actually hates the child.
What is False? (The poem reveals his deep love/longing to comfort him)
What is False? (The poem reveals his deep love/longing to comfort him)
The tone of the first two stanzas is harsh, but the tone of the third stanza shifts to become more _______.
What is empathetic/tender/reflective?
The father’s "mask" isn't made of plastic; it represents his effort to hide his love so he can stay firm. This makes the mask a ________ for parental discipline.
What is a symbol?
he boy imagines "chopping clean" a tree. This is an allusion to which famous nursery tale?
What is Jack and the Beanstalk?
This is the primary reason the father refuses to comfort the boy immediately.
What is to teach him lessons (discipline)?
The phrase "make a plaything of the rain" warns the child not to use his emotions for this purpose.
What is manipulation?
The word "scald" usually refers to burning liquid. Using it to describe tears is an example of an extended _______.
What is a metaphor?
The poet describes the boy's tears as "scald(ing)" the father. Usually, this word describes boiling water. By using this specific word, the poet shows that the boy's crying makes the father feel a sense of intense _______.
What is pain (or burning/guilt)?
The phrase "colossal cruel" uses this device, where the same consonant sound is repeated at the start of words.
What is alliteration?
The father is described as a "fierce man," but his internal feelings are described as "wavering." This creates a sharp _______.
What is contrast ?
This is the main irony of the poem: The child thinks the father is cruel, while the father is actually ______.
What is suffering/hurting?
The poem is written in "Free Verse." This means it lacks a consistent _______.
What is a rhyme scheme (or meter)?
What is a rhyme scheme (or meter)?
In Stanza 1, the boy’s frame is "relaxed," but it suddenly becomes "tight." Placing these two opposite feelings side-by-side to show how fast his mood changed is an example of _______.
What is juxtaposition (or contrast)?