Vocabulary
Define the term theme.
The theme of a poem is the message an author wants to communicate through the piece.
What is an Idiom?
An idiom is a short expression that is peculiar to a language, people, or place that conveys a figurative meaning without a literal interpretation of the words used in the phrase.
Name the voice of the poem?
The mother was the voice.
What is a stanza?
A stanza is a series of lines grouped together in order to divide a poem.
Define the term tone.
The poet's attitude toward the poem's speaker, reader, and subject matter, as interpreted by the reader.
What is symbolism?
Symbolism is the use of a concrete image to represent an abstract idea.
What was the theme of Mother to Son?
This poem is based on the idea of hope and encouragement to move forward in life, despite all difficulties, and no matter how tough life may become. It is also the demonstration of the love a mother has for her son. Behind this love, the poet emphasizes the idea of never giving up in any situation.
What is a rhyme?
Correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry.
Define the term setting.
The location AND time frame in which the story takes place.
Define and give an example of an onomatopoeia.
A figure of speech in which the sound of a word imitates its sense (for example, “choo-choo,” “hiss,” or “buzz”).
What was the tone of Mother to Son?
The mother's tone in the beginning is somber and gloomy as she's describing how difficult her life has been. By the end of the poem, the tone shifts to hopeful as she's encouraging her son to never give up despite the obstacles he faces in life.
What is a Rhyme Scheme?
The ordered pattern of rhymes at the ends of the lines of a poem or verse.
Define the term voice.
The speaker in the poem.
Define and give an example of alliteration.
The repetition of initial stressed, consonant sounds in a series of words within a phrase or verse line.
Sally sells seashells by the seashore.
Did the Mother have an easy or hard life? How do you know?
She had a hard life and we know that because of the way she described the staircase.
How do you label Rhyme Scheme?
When labeling a rhyme scheme in a poem, you can write uppercase letters at the end of each line that denote rhymes. The first line is “A,” and subsequent lines continue through the alphabet in order. If you find a line that rhymes with a previous line, you label it with the same letter as the earlier line.
All the choices that are made to create the meaning of a poem.
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile makes a comparison using the words “like” or “as.” Example: The concert was so crowded, it felt like a million people were there. A metaphor makes the comparison directly, substituting one thing for another. Example: That test was a killer.
What was a symbol in the poem and what did it symbolize.
The staircase was a symbol of the Mother's life.
Label the Rhyme Scheme:
Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for his living.
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
C