AnswersTwilight Session 1 Fall 26 Literature and Composition I_CThompsonImproving Vocabulary with Word Parts and Context Clues

Walt Whitman’s "Song of Myself" Answers

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Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the general structure of the poem?

A
Just as the poem has a loose, open structure, these lines display personal freedom.
B
The lines reflect the difficult and impenetrable nature of certain parts of the poem.
C
The lines evoke the aggressive tones expressed elsewhere in the poem.
D
The lines indicate an attention to urban settings expressed elsewhere in the poem.
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Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."It is not far, it is within reach,Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land.Shoulder your duds dear son, and I will mine, and let us hasten forth,Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go.In this quotation, the first stanza has a different style from the second section. What does this suggest about Whitman’s overall style in the poem?

A
that Whitman does not have a distinctive style as a poet
B
that Whitman’s style allows for various kinds of language
C
that Whitman is comfortable using traditional styles of poetry
D
that Whitman’s style conforms to age-old rules of poetry
3

Which statement best describes the way the sections in the excerpt from "Song of Myself" are constructed?

A
They represent the order of events in a long narrative.
B
They show unique sides of a universal worldview.
C
They reveal opposing sides of an ongoing argument.
D
They suggest that the poem has more than one speaker.
4

Read the excerpt from "Song of Myself."Long enough have you dream’d contemptible dreams,Now I wash the gum from your eyes,You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life.Long have you timidly waded holding a plank by the shore,Now I will you to be a bold swimmer,To jump off in the midst of the sea, rise again, nod to me, shout, and laughingly dash with your hair.What theme is suggested by this excerpt?

A
People should be brave, take risks, and embrace all aspects of life.
B
People should be careful when taking chances that they can handle the outcome.
C
People should take the time to appreciate the beauty that surrounds them each day.
D
People should be lighthearted and carefree and avoid taking life too seriously.
5

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I have no chair, no church, no philosophy,I lead no man to a dinner-table, library, exchange,But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll,My left hand hooking you round the waist,My right hand pointing to landscapes of continents and the public road.Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the theme of the poem?

A
They indicate that Whitman is more interested in communicating with individuals than society.
B
They show Whitman’s sociability and his interest in human nature.
C
They reflect Whitman’s desire to share his love of the wilderness.
D
They suggest that Whitman views all individuals as equals who should communicate with each other as such.
6

The sections of "Song of Myself" approach one subject from several different angles. How does this technique reflect the main theme of the poem?

A
It shows the complicated nature of the world.
B
It indicates the need for one to think deeply about one’s flaws.
C
It corresponds to the idea that the self is all-encompassing.
D
It supports the notion of concern for one’s friends and family.
7

How do the images of travel in part 46 of "Song of Myself" contribute to the poem’s theme?

A
They suggest that human life is impermanent.
B
They show that growth involves a steady movement forward.
C
They remind readers that the poem is about journeying within one’s self.
D
They suggest expansiveness, or extending one’s reach outward.
8

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."You will hardly know who I am or what I mean, But I shall be good health to you nevertheless, And filter and fibre your blood.Why does Whitman use such a simple phrase as “who I am or what I mean”?

A
He is concerned that readers won’t understand his poem.
B
He wants to communicate directly with readers.
C
He is unable to express his thoughts in any other style.
D
He wants to vary the language of the poem.
9

Read the line from "Song of Myself."For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. What is the effect of the word “atom” in this line and later in the poem?

A
It emphasizes the narrator’s belief that every parcel of the Earth belongs to everyone.
B
It suggests that the narrator values science over spirituality.
C
It emphasizes the narrator’s belief that people should give away all of their belongings.
D
It suggests that the narrator values nature over material objects.
10

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Which statement best explains why Whitman chose the phrase “every atom” for the last line?

A
to emphasize the seriousness of his words
B
to suggest attention to detail, heightening trustworthiness
C
to remind readers to remember the basic makeup of natural objects
D
to remind readers to embrace a microscopic view of the natural world

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