Meaning & Retrieval
[I was the sun...] Explain, in your own words, what the headline "I was the sun, and the kids were my planets" suggests about the writer's view of herself as a mother.
It suggests she was the center of her children's universe, providing the warmth and focus that their lives revolved around
[I was the sun...] The writer uses language related to birds (wings, nest) in lines 16-17. Is this a compound adjective, extended simile, or extended metaphor?
Extended metaphor
[I was the sun...] What does the writer suggest when she describes her children as 'like shooting stars' in line 13?
It suggests their visits are beautiful but temporary, brief, and no longer part of a constant, predictable orbit
[I was the sun...] How does the writer use different sentence structures in lines 1-3? Give one example and explain the effect.
She uses a short, simple sentence: "But it was the end of something" to create a blunt, heavy emphasis on her grief
[I was the sun...] Give an example of "Emotive language" and "Contrast" from lines 20-24 of the Beverly Beckham article.
Emotive language: "the worst". Contrast: comparing leaving to "not a death" but also "not nothing"
[Taming the Tiger] Why was the narrator "blinking heavily" when the stranger arrived at the house?
He was likely crying or trying to suppress tears due to the emotional distress of the situation
[Taming the Tiger] Identify the simile used to describe the narrator's reaction when he realized he was far from home in China.
"Like a frightened rabbit"
[Taming the Tiger] The grandfather is described as a "spindly man." What does this specific word choice suggest about his initial appearance to the child?
It suggests he looked very thin, frail, and physically unimposing
[I was the sun...] Explain how the writer uses structure in the last two lines to show how much she misses her children.
She uses a list of specific, intimate locations separated by commas to emphasize the volume of daily moments she now lacks
[I was the sun..] What is the main idea conveyed in lines 5-7 regarding the house being the "sun"?
The house was a source of light and warmth, energized by the constant activity of the children
[When the Mountains Roared] Based on Extract 1, what reason does Ruby give for why the world "isn't yours to take"?
She argues that people cannot justify hurting living things just to get what they want
[To a Daughter Leaving Home] The hair is described as "flapping behind you like a handkerchief waving goodbye." What literary device is this?
Simile
[To a Daughter Leaving Home] How does the imagery of the daughter growing "smaller, more breakable / with distance" reflect the mother's internal feelings?
It reflects the mother's increasing fear and sense of vulnerability as she loses the ability to protect her child
[Taming the Tiger] Look at the short, repetitive questions "Where were we?" and "Surely Mum and Dad would come soon?" What is the structural effect?
They mimic the rapid, panicked thoughts of a confused child, building tension for the reader
[Taming the Tiger] How does the writer use the contrast between "excitement" and "fear" to show the narrator's confusion?
It highlights his struggle between seeing the trip as a "fantastic adventure" and the scary reality of being alone
[To a Daughter Leaving Home] What physical evidence does the poet provide to show that the daughter is moving away from her?
The daughter is described as pulling ahead down a "curved path," creating more distance between them
[Home for Thanksgiving] The poet says daughters "take off their aprons / as trees take off their leaves." Identify the technique used here.
Simile
[Home for Thanksgiving] Explain the effect of the metaphor "it is the late afternoon / Of the family."
It creates a melancholy mood, suggesting the family’s most vibrant years together are nearing an end
[To a Daughter Leaving Home] The poem is written as one long, continuous sentence. Why might the poet have chosen this structure?
To mirror the continuous, unstoppable motion of a bicycle ride and the rapid passage of time
[When the Mountains Roared] How does the word "listlessly" help the reader understand Ruby's emotional state?
It conveys that she is completely drained of energy and spirit following the stressful confrontation
[Home for Thanksgiving] What does the word "silhouettes" suggest about how the family members will appear to each other soon?
It suggests they will become dark, indistinct shapes, implying a loss of individual detail or closeness as they drift apart
[When the Mountains Roared] Find an example of personification used to describe the weather in the Epilogue.
The cloud that "drifts inside" if the window is left open
[When the Mountains Roared] Ruby says to the kangaroo, "You’re tougher than you look. Just like me." How does this comparison show a change in Ruby’s character?
It shows she has gained self-confidence and recognizes her own resilience after the trauma she faced
[When the Mountains Roared] How does the writer use short, punchy sentences in the scene where Toad attacks Joey to create a sense of urgency?
Short sentences like "He's strangling her" speed up the reading pace to reflect the fast, chaotic action of the fight
[Home for Thanksgiving] The writer says, "Let us eat quickly / let us fill ourselves up." What does this suggest about the urgency of the family’s time?
It suggests they are desperate to savor their time together before they are forced to part again