Question

analyze the text
support your responses with evidence from the text.
1 analyze the speaker uses voices as a metaphor in lines 2 and 32. for what abstract idea are voices a metaphor? what is the significance of the voices being “remnants” and “buried in the mississippi mud”?
2 interpret in lines 12 - 13, the speaker says, “i know it wasn’t just a horse / that went crazy.” what does the speaker mean?
3 infer trace the development of the idea of memory through the poem. what theme about memory does the poet communicate?
4 cite evidence in lines 37 - 42, the speaker describes desoto. what idea might the poet hope to convey with the color imagery that is repeated in this stanza? use the graphic organizer to complete your response.
color imagery what it means
5 compare how does the speaker describe desoto and the creeks in lines 37 - 57? what do these descriptions indicate about their relationship with one another?
6 draw conclusions in the last two stanzas, the speaker notes desoto “must have got away.” what makes her think as she does? what can you conclude from her observations?
unit 1 analyze & apply

Explanation:

1. Analysis of metaphor: The metaphor of voices as "remnants" and "buried in the Mississippi mud" likely represents the idea that these voices (perhaps of history, ancestors, or unheard - of stories) are hidden or suppressed, like remnants lost in the muddy depths of history.
2. Interpretation of line: "I know it wasn't just a horse / that went crazy" might suggest that there are deeper, more complex issues at play than a simple case of a horse going mad. It could imply a breakdown or chaos in a larger context, perhaps related to memory or the past.
3. Inference about memory: By tracing the development of the idea of memory, the poet may be exploring themes such as the fragility, elusiveness, or the way memory can be distorted or lost over time.
4. Citing color - imagery: Without the actual text, we can't identify the color - imagery. But generally, color - imagery can convey mood (e.g., red for passion or danger, blue for calm or sadness), time (e.g., golden for a by - gone era), or symbolic meanings related to the poem's themes.
5. Comparison: Comparing the descriptions of DeSoto and the Creeks can reveal power dynamics, cultural differences, or the relationship between the colonizer (DeSoto) and the indigenous people (the Creeks).
6. Drawing conclusions: The speaker's conclusion that "must have got away" in the last two stanzas may be based on clues in the text about escape, survival, or the evasion of DeSoto's influence. It could also relate to the idea of memory and what has endured or disappeared over time.

Answer:

1. The metaphor represents hidden or suppressed voices/stories in history.
2. It implies deeper, more complex issues beyond a horse's madness.
3. Themes like fragility and elusiveness of memory may be explored.
4. Color - imagery can convey mood, time, or symbolic meanings.
5. It can reveal power dynamics and cultural differences in the relationship.
6. The conclusion may be based on clues about escape and the endurance of memory.