Exploring the Text

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  1. What do you think the coffee represents in “Arabic Coffee”? Consider both its literal and symbolic meanings.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What do you think the coffee represents in “Arabic Coffee”? Consider both its literal and symbolic meanings.
  2. What is the purpose of “Arabic Coffee”? How do the contrasts within the poem help Naomi Shihab Nye achieve her purpose?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What is the purpose of “Arabic Coffee”? How do the contrasts within the poem help Naomi Shihab Nye achieve her purpose?
  3. How do you think the speaker feels about her father? Use words or phrases from the poem to explain your answer.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - How do you think the speaker feels about her father? Use words or phrases from the poem to explain your answer.
  4. Look carefully at lines 10–12, “And the place where men and women / break off from one another / was not present in that room.” Why does Nye consider the separation of men and women a “place”? What do you think it means when she says it’s not present in the room where the coffee is being served? How does it connect to the seven lines that follow?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Look carefully at lines 10–12, “And the place where men and women / break off from one another / was not present in that room.” Why does Nye consider the separation of men and women a “place”? What do you think it means when she says it’s not present in the room where the coffee is being served? How does it connect to the seven lines that follow?
  5. How does “Arabic Coffee” comment on both traditional values and the values of modern culture?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - How does “Arabic Coffee” comment on both traditional values and the values of modern culture?