Exploring the Text

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  1. What argument does Sharon Olds make about the development of gender roles in “Rite of Passage”?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - What argument does Sharon Olds make about the development of gender roles in “Rite of Passage”?
  2. How would you describe the tone of this poem? How does the tone reflect the attitude of the speaker?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - How would you describe the tone of this poem? How does the tone reflect the attitude of the speaker?
  3. Are the images in the poem mainly literal or figurative? What do the images in this poem evoke?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Are the images in the poem mainly literal or figurative? What do the images in this poem evoke?
  4. Explain the title of the poem. Why do you think Olds used it? What other rites of passage do you know about? Are they anything like what Olds describes here? How are they the same? How are they different?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Explain the title of the poem. Why do you think Olds used it? What other rites of passage do you know about? Are they anything like what Olds describes here? How are they the same? How are they different?
  5. Olds avoids calling these first graders boys and does not use their names. At one point she even refers to them as “a six” and “a seven.” Why do you think she made that decision?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Olds avoids calling these first graders boys and does not use their names. At one point she even refers to them as “a six” and “a seven.” Why do you think she made that decision?
  6. Imagine this poem beginning

    As the guests arrive at my daughter’s party

    they gather in the living room—

    short women, women in first grade

    Where would you take it from there?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Exploring the Text: - Imagine this poem beginningAs the guests arrive at my daughter’s partythey gather in the living room—short women, women in first gradeWhere would you take it from there?