Responding to a Poem for Assessment
When you closely read a poem on an assessment, pay attention to the sounds of poetry, such as rhythm, alliteration, and repetition. Also note the meaning of poetry, focusing on features like imagery, metaphor, and symbolism.
Closely read a poem.
Read the following poem, paying attention to sound and meaning.
Source 2
Chicago Poet
Carl Sandburg
I saluted a nobody.
I saw him in a looking-glass.
He smiled—so did I.
He crumpled the skin on his forehead,
frowning—so did I.
Everything I did he did.
I said, “Hello, I know you.”
And I was a liar to say so.
Ah, this looking-glass man!
Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor,
Soldier, dusty drinker of dust—
Ah! he will go with me
Down the dark stairway
When nobody else is looking,
When everybody else is gone.
He locks his elbow in mine,
I lose all—but not him.
Respond to a poem.
Answer these questions, focusing on the poem’s sound and meaning.
- Which are examples of alliteration?
A. “smiled—so” “forehead, frowning”
B. “I was a liar” “dreamer, play-actor”
C. “dusty drinker of dust” “down the dark stairway”
D. Both A and C contain alliteration.
A. “smiled—so” “forehead, frowning”
B. “I was a liar” “dreamer, play-actor”
C. “dusty drinker of dust” “down the dark stairway”
D. Both A and C contain alliteration.
- Which words are repeated in the poem?
A. “saluted”
B. “so did I”
C. “crumpled”
D. “stairway”
A. “saluted”
B. “so did I”
C. “crumpled”
D. “stairway”
- Infer why the poet uses the repetition in number 2.
A. He couldn’t think of a different rhyme.
B. He used repetition to create confusion.
C. He used repetition to create a sense of reflection.
D. He wanted to make strong imagery.
A. He couldn’t think of a different rhyme.
B. He used repetition to create confusion.
C. He used repetition to create a sense of reflection.
D. He wanted to make strong imagery.
- What imagery describes the poet?
A. “crumpled the skin on his forehead“
B. “Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor”
C. “Soldier, dusty drinker of dust”
D. All of these describe the writer and his reflection.
A. “crumpled the skin on his forehead“
B. “Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor”
C. “Soldier, dusty drinker of dust”
D. All of these describe the writer and his reflection.
- Why does the poet say he is a liar for knowing his own reflection?
A. He hasn’t seen his reflection before.
B. He doesn’t know who he really is.
C. His reflection is too dusty to recognize.
D. He thinks he is seeing a different person.
A. He hasn’t seen his reflection before.
B. He doesn’t know who he really is.
C. His reflection is too dusty to recognize.
D. He thinks he is seeing a different person.
- What is the poet trying to say about life? (theme)
A. People can’t resist looking at themselves in mirrors.
B. You can’t have a conversation with your reflection.
C. We can never escape who we are, even if we are strangers to ourselves.
D. Mirrors on stairways are dangerous.
A. People can’t resist looking at themselves in mirrors.
B. You can’t have a conversation with your reflection.
C. We can never escape who we are, even if we are strangers to ourselves.
D. Mirrors on stairways are dangerous.