Exploring the Text

  1. In “Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation,” what is wrong with the italicized phrases (ll. 6–10), according to the speaker?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: In “Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation,” what is wrong with the italicized phrases (ll. 6–10), according to the speaker?
  2. Is it significant that the invitation—possibly an invitation to attend a conference or to give a poetry reading—arrived via fax? Why or why not?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: Is it significant that the invitation—possibly an invitation to attend a conference or to give a poetry reading—arrived via fax? Why or why not?
  3. What examples of irony do you see in “Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation”?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: What examples of irony do you see in “Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation”?
  4. What does the speaker mean by “I live in teaspoon, bucket, river, pain, / turtle sunning on a brick” (ll. 18–19)?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: What does the speaker mean by “I live in teaspoon, bucket, river, pain, / turtle sunning on a brick” (ll. 18–19)?
  5. How would you describe the tone of this poem?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: How would you describe the tone of this poem?
  6. Discuss how these two poems by Naomi Shihab Nye might be interpreted as updated examples of George Orwell’s points in “Politics and the English Language” (p. 707).

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 10 - Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation - Exploring the Text: Discuss how these two poems by Naomi Shihab Nye might be interpreted as updated examples of George Orwell’s points in “Politics and the English Language” (p. 707).