Question

masks by shel silverstein

1. part a: which statement best explains the metaphorical meaning of blue skin in the poem?

a. in the poem, only two people in the whole world have blue skin, which means that they must be soulmates.
b. in the poem, blue skin is such a common trait that people must wear masks in order to appear unique.
c. in the poem, blue skin represents a quality that people are afraid to share even though it is an important part of their identity.
d. in the poem, blue skin represents the sadness that people try to hide by always being polite and keeping smiles on their faces.

1. part b: which quote from the poem best supports the answer to part a?

a. \she had blue skin\
b. \kept it hid\
c. \searched for blue\
d.
ever knew\

1. how does the illustration contribute to the meaning of the poem?

a. the size of the masks in the illustration emphasizes how hard people try to hide

Explanation:

In the poem "Masks" by Shel Silverstein, blue - skin is a metaphor for something people hide. Sadness is often an emotion people mask with politeness and smiles. The quote "kept it hid" supports the idea that blue - skin represents something hidden. The illustration likely emphasizes the hiding aspect as well.

Answer:

1. d. In the poem, blue skin represents the sadness that people try to hide by always being polite and keeping smiles on their faces.
2. b. "kept it hid"
3. a. The size of the masks in the illustration emphasizes how hard people try to hide.