Question

a jelly - fish
by marianne moore
visible, invisible,
a fluctuating charm,
an amber - colored amethyst
inhabits it; your arm
approaches, and
it opens and
it closes;
you have meant
to catch it,
and it shrivels;
you abandon
your intent
it opens, and it
closes and you
reach for it
the blue
surrounding it
grows cloudy, and
it floats away
from you.

1. ______ the author uses language to help the reader visualize the actions of a jelly - fish.

which of the following lines helps you to imagine a jelly - fish opening and closing?
a) the blue, surrounding it
b) visible, invisible,
c) inhabits it; your arm
d) you abandon, your intent -

1. ______ what does the word fluctuating mean in this poem?

a) funny
b) living
c) moving
d) beautiful

1. ______ the author uses language that allows the reader to compare the jelly - fish to the person trying to catch the jelly - fish.

which of the following descriptions of the jelly - fish are similar to that of the person trying to catch the jelly - fish?
a) both the jelly - fish and the person are confused about their purpose in life and how they should approach situations.
b) the jelly - fish seems smarter than the person that is trying to catch it, and the person seems only focused on what they want.
c) both the jelly - fish and the person live in the same habitat, and they know how to co - exist without bothering the other.
d) both the jelly - fish and the person can’t make up their mind about what they are doing: opening or closing and trying to catch the jelly - fish or giving up.

1. ______ which of the following is a possible underlying theme of this poem, a jelly - fish?

a) enjoy nature and all of its beauty.
b) humans and their emotions are flexible and ever changing.
c) the world is like the ocean: vast and deep.
d) be sure to know which direction you are going before you start.

Explanation:

1. For question 1, the line "Visible, invisible," directly mirrors the jelly-fish's opening (becoming visible) and closing (becoming invisible) action described in the poem.
2. For question 2, "fluctuating" describes the jelly-fish's shifting, moving state as it opens and closes, so it means moving.
3. For question 3, the jelly-fish opens/closes repeatedly, and the person alternates between trying to catch it and abandoning the intent, matching the description of indecision in option d.
4. For question 4, the poem focuses on the jelly-fish's changing state and the human's shifting intent, reflecting the idea of flexible, ever-changing humans and their emotions.

Answer:

1. b) Visible, invisible,
2. c) Moving
3. d) Both the jelly-fish and the person can’t make up their mind about what they are doing: opening or closing and trying to catch the jelly-fish or giving up.
4. b) Humans and their emotions are flexible and ever changing.