Question

1. which of the following lines creates tension for the reader? a) “the mother smiled to know that her child / was in the sacred place” b) “but you may go to church instead / and sing in the children’s choir.” c) “and drawn white gloves on her small brown hands, / and white shoes on her feet” d) “but that smile was the last smile / to come upon her face” 5) which of the following would best describe a theme of the poem? a) it’s not always possible for parents to protect their children from the dangers of the world. b) protesting is too dangerous for children to take part in. c) a parent does not have the right to force their religious beliefs on their children. d) protests are only important if they remain peaceful. in one paragraph, explain how the theme you chose for #5 is developed over the course of the poem. include at least one quote as evidence.

Explanation:

1. Tension is created by suggestions of impending negative events. "But that smile was the last smile / to come upon her face" implies something bad will happen after, creating tension.
2. The theme about parents not always being able to protect children from the world's dangers is a common and plausible one for a poem dealing with children - related situations. The other options seem more specific and less likely to be the over - arching theme.

For the explanation of theme development: The poem likely starts by showing a sense of normalcy or safety, like a child in a seemingly safe place as in "The mother smiled to know that her child / Was in the sacred place". But then, lines like "But that smile was the last smile / to come upon her face" suggest that despite the initial sense of safety, danger has encroached, showing that parents cannot always shield their children from the world's perils.

Answer:

1. d) "But that smile was the last smile / to come upon her face"
2. a) It’s not always possible for parents to protect their children from the dangers of the world.