Dream Variations

By, Langston Hughes

To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done.
Then rest at cool evening
Beneath a tall tree
While night comes on gently,
Dark like me-
That is my dream!

To fling my arms wide
In the face of the sun,
Dance! Whirl! Whirl!
Till the quick day is done.
Rest at pale evening...
A tall, slim tree...
Night coming tenderly
Black like me.

1. In line 7, the use of personification "While night comes on gently," is used to

A. suggest the character traits of the night.
B. contrast the night with the speaker's life.
C. illustrate the uncertainty of the night.
D. suggest the conflicted feelings of the speaker.

 

Key: A

R-7-6.1 (author's craft - personification)

Item Type: MC - related to passage

Alignment to GLE R-7-6.1: Analyze and interpret author's craft, citing evidence where appropriate by… Demonstrating knowledge of use of literary elements and devices (i.e., imagery, personification) to analyze literary works

Depth of Knowledge: Level 2 - Identify use of literary devices; Recognize appropriate generalizations about text
2. What is the main purpose of the use of repetition in the poem?

A. It causes the reader to believe the information is important.
B. It makes the reader doubt the information.
C. It suggests that the reader should question the speaker's feelings.
D. It makes the reader understand the speaker's conflict.

 

Key: A

R-7-6.1 (author's craft - repetition)

Item Type: MC - related to passage

Alignment to GLE R-7-6.1: Analyze and interpret author's craft, citing evidence where appropriate by… Demonstrating knowledge of use of literary elements and devices (i.e., repetition) to analyze literary works

Depth of Knowledge: Level 2 - Identify use of literary devices; Recognize appropriate generalizations about text

 
3. In this poem, the use of repetition helps build a mood of

A. nostalgia.
B. uncertainty.
C. excitement.
D. observation.

 

Key: C

R-7-6.1 (author's craft - repetition)

Item Type: MC - related to passage

Alignment to GLE R-7-6.1: Analyze and interpret author's craft, citing evidence where appropriate by… Demonstrating knowledge of use of literary elements and devices (i.e., repetition) to analyze literary works

Depth of Knowledge: Level 2 - Identify use of literary devices; Recognize appropriate generalizations about text
4. In this poem, the author uses repetition to build a particular mood. Use details from the poem to explain what mood is created through the use of repetition.

 

 

Key: Scoring Guide

R-7-6.1 (author's craft - repetition)

Item Type: CR - related to passage

Alignment to GLE R-7-6.1: Analyze and interpret author's craft, citing evidence where appropriate by… Demonstrating knowledge of use of literary elements and devices (i.e., repetition) to analyze literary works

Depth of Knowledge: Level 3 - Explain, generalize, or connect ideas, using supporting evidence from the text; Draw inferences about author's purpose, author's message or theme (explicit or implied)