Vocabulary
Word Study
Symbolism/Theme
100

TRIPLE POINTS!

James_______himself toward victory in a dash of speed.

a. flung
b. catapulted
c. lurched

a. flung

100

Nothin' here

except us chickens ;P

100

In "Mother to Son," what might the wooden staircase symbolize.

A difficult, rough, hard, "bad," and/or underprivileged life

200

In his mind, the speaker_________alongside James as he ran the race.
a. flung
b. catapulted
c. lurched

c. lurched

200

In "Mother to Son," the mother says, "Don't you turn back... / 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard."

(incredibly, somewhat, __________)

somewhat

or another answer

200

In "To James," the race symbolizes life. What could victory in the race symbolize?

a. showing you are better than others

b. achieving your goals

b. achieving your goals

300

To break the tape at the finish line, James________himself through the other runners.

a. flung
b. catapulted
c. lurched

b. catapulted

He went THROUGH them, suggesting the action of a catapult.

300

James pops out of his starting blocks in the race.

(explodes, breaks, ________)

explodes

or another answer

300

DOUBLE POINTS

Pick TWO details below that support the idea that the wooden staircase symbolizes a difficult life:

a) Don't you set down
b) I'se still climbin'
c) boards tore up
d) bare

c) boards tore up
d) bare

400

The speaker tells James to ________ out of the starting blocks in the race of life.

a. fling
b. catapult
c. lurch

c. lurch

This line is IN the poem itself.

400

In "To James," the speaker in the stands is mindful of James.

(considerate, proud, __________)

proud

or another answer

400
Name a quote from "Mother to Son" that supports the theme "keep going when life gets difficult"

Answers will vary but could include:

"don't you set down cuz you finds it kinder hard"

500

Saving nothing from the race means that James has ________ himself forward to the finish line in victory.

a. flung
b. catapulted
c. lurched

a. flung

500

In "Mother to Son," the mother screamed at her son about never giving up.

(explained to,  lectured,  _________)

lectured

or another answer

500

NOPE!

Aim low next time. These get harder the higher they get!