Question

genre / text elements
visual elements in poetry
directions: read the poem. then, answer the questions that follow.
my grandmother pieced and stitched
of this quilt.
5 so many fabrics— every single square
silk, satin, velvet, corduroy, cotton...
all the remnants of those old fancy dresses
that gathered dust in the closet for too long.
10 ive inherited these pieces
of her, reminders of a past
i think about often.

1. which two lines begin indented?
2. why might the author have chosen to indent these lines and make them very short?

write the letter of the best answer on the line.
a. the lines emphasize the pattern on the stitching seen in many quilts.
b. they force the reader to slow down and imagine the work involved in making a quilt.
c. both a and b

1. how would lines 1 - 3 read differently if they were combined into one line?
2. why might the author have ended line 5 with a dash?
3. what might the ellipsis at the end of line 6 indicate?
4. why might the author have chosen to end line 9 with the word “pieces”?
5. why might the author have started a new stanza with line 9?

Explanation:

1. By visually inspecting the poem, lines 5 and 10 begin indented.
2. Indenting short lines can emphasize patterns (like in quilting) and make readers slow - down and visualize the work. So both a and b are valid reasons.
3. Combining lines 1 - 3 into one would make the flow more continuous and less broken up, changing the rhythm and emphasis on each phrase.
4. Ending line 5 with a dash creates a pause and leads the reader to expect more information about the fabrics.
5. The ellipsis at the end of line 6 indicates that there are more fabrics not listed, suggesting an open - ended list or continuation.
6. Ending line 9 with "pieces" emphasizes the individual parts of the quilt and the memories associated with them, also creating a bit of a cliff - hanger for the reader.
7. Starting a new stanza with line 9 signals a shift in thought, moving from the description of the quilt - making and fabrics to the author's inheritance and memories.

Answer:

1. Lines 5 and 10.
2. c. both a and b
3. The flow would be more continuous and the rhythm and emphasis would change.
4. To create a pause and suggest more information about the fabrics.
5. That there are more fabrics not listed.
6. To emphasize the individual parts and create a bit of a cliff - hanger.
7. To signal a shift in thought from quilt - making to inheritance and memories.