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10 questions
Which describes the speaker?
She is the daughter of a woman who refuses to let go.
She is the friend of a rebellious teenager.
She is the mother of a child finding her independence.
She is a hairstylist unhappy with a client's choice.
Which describes the tone of the speaker?
nostalgic
bitter
amused
indifferent
Which line(s) help develop the tone of the poem? Choose ALL that apply.
that girl with the
hair wispy as a frayed bellpull
that knife grinder,
and had the edge of her hair sharpened.
the watch fires of an enemy, a while before
the war starts.
How does the description of the haircut develop the reader understanding of this relationship?
has been to the barber, that knife grinder,
and had the edge of her hair sharpened.
Each strand now cuts
both ways. The blade of new bangs
hangs over her red-brown eyes
like carbon steel.
All the little spliced ropes are sliced. The curtain of
dark paper-cuts veils the face
It creates a rough, hard image that mimics the relationship.
It creates a soft, flowing image that mimics the relationship.
It creates an image that feels familiar and friendly.
It create an image that feels mysterious and exciting.
Which line(s) contribute to a sense of antagonism?
has been to the barber, that knife grinder,
and had the edge of her hair sharpened.
My body. My daughter. I’ll have to find
another word. In her bright helmet
the watch fires of an enemy, a while before
the war starts.
that girl with the
hair wispy as a frayed bellpull
When describing her daughter’s haircut, the speaker says, “Each strand now cuts / both ways.” What is the most likely interpretation of lines 6-7?
The daughter’s hair hangs unevenly in front of her face.
The mother both likes and dislikes the daughter’s new hairstyle
The daughter’s growing independence can hurt both mother and daughter
The mother wants her daughter to be independent but is afraid for her safety.
What does the repetition in lines 11-15 suggest about the speaker’s feelings?
spliced ropes are sliced. The curtain of
dark paper-cuts veils the face
that started from next to nothing in my body —
My body. My daughter. I’ll have to find
another word.
She feels distant from her daughter
She feels that her daughter belongs to her.
She feels amused by her daughter’s actions.
She feels angry about her daughter's choices.
The speaker’s description of the haircut as a “bright helmet” in line 15 suggests that —
the daughter is becoming better at expressing herself.
the daughter is becoming guarded toward her mother.
the mother is just as excited about the haircut as her daughter.
the mother will continue to protect her daughter from the world.
Who is the speaker’s “enemy” in line 19?
the watch fires of an enemy, a while before
the speaker
the daughter
the daughter's friends
someone who threatens the daughter
How is the relationship between mother and daughter changing?
They are growing closer.
They are starting to fight.
They are finally getting along better than they used to.
Nothing has changed.
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