Figurative Language
Her diamond necklace sparkled so brilliantly that you could see the shine from outer space. (Explain what it helps us understand)
Hyperbole
Where is the speaker travelling to in the poem?
Nome, Alaska
What is the most basic unit of a poem called?
A line
What kind of figurative language is being used?
All the way to Nome, I trace the shadow of the plane as it walks/ Over turquoise lakes made by late spring breakup/ Of the Bering Sea
Personification
When he saw his test scores, he proudly declared that he would be known as the next Albert Einstein. (Explain what it helps us understand)
Allusion
What is a tundra?
A vast, flat, and treeless biome found in cold regions where the ground beneath the surface is permanently frozen.
What are the "paragraphs" in a poem called?
Stanzas
Which of the five senses is Harjo trying to connect to here?
Her smell is sweet like blossoms coming up through the snow.
Sense of smell
The bed complained loudly as the kids continued to compete to see who could hop the longest. (Explain what it helps us understand)
Personification
Why is Harjo's use of personification so important in the poem?
It reveals her connection and love to the beautiful nature of the tundra.
What is it called when the author starts a new line in the poem?
A line break
What does the short line length suggest?
We swing to the summer camps where seal hangs on drying frames.
She takes me home.
I watch her son play video games on break from the university
It emphasizes that home can be more than one place.
He jumped over the table like he was Spiderman. (Explain what it helps us understand)
Allusion
What is the irony of the son playing video games in the poem?
Emphasizing the balance between Nature and Technology
What word do we use to describe the pacing and rhythm when reading a poem?
Flow
What does this line reveal about Harjo's attitude about her identity?
"We do not need history in books to tell us who we are Or where we come from, I remind him."
She's confident and self assured
I was running so fast that I could almost see a trail of smoke behind me. (Explain what it helps us understand)
Hyperbole
What is the purpose of "spirit walking"?
To connect back with nature and find yourself again.
What type of poetry does not follow any rules, rhyme scheme, or structure?
Free Verse Poetry
What does Harjo hope to do during her trip back to Nome, Alaska?
It's her homecoming journey to reconnect with nature and her culture.