“Mother to Son” is a poem written by Langston Hughes that uses the metaphor of a staircase to describe the hardships of life. The speaker is a mother who is giving advice to her son about how to overcome the obstacles he will face in life. She tells her son that her own life has not ...........................
Mother to Son - New Pathways Literature - Class 7 - English
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Extra Questions - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
Why do you think the mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal?
What do you think the “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent in the mother’s life?
How do you think the mother might have felt when she found places with no carpet on the floor?
What does the word “Bare” mean in this content? Why do you think the mother used this word?
How does the condition of the stairs reflect on the mother’s journey through life?
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
Why do you think the mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal?
What do you think the “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent in the mother’s life?
How do you think the mother might have felt when she found places with no carpet on the floor?
What does the word “Bare” mean in this content? Why do you think the mother used this word?
How does the condition of the stairs reflect on the mother’s journey through life?
The mother compares her life to a stair that’s not made of crystal to show it’s been tough and not easy or shiny like a shiny, smooth crystal stair would be.
The “splinters” and “tacks” in the stairs might represent struggles or obstacles the mother has faced in her life. They made her journey tough and painful at times.
When the mother found places with no carpet on the floor, she felt discomfort or hardship. These could be the hard times she faced in her life.
The word “Bare” probably means empty or without any protection. It shows the mother’s life has been rough and harsh, without any comforts.
The condition of the stairs reflects the mother’s hard and challenging journey through life. She had experienced a lot of hardships along the way.
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But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
What does the speaker mean when they say, “I’se been a-climbin’ on”? What could ‘climbing’ symbolize in this poem?
Why do you think the speaker talks about “reachin’ landin’s” and “turnin’ corners”? What can these phrases tell us about the speaker’s journey through life?
The speaker mentions “sometimes goin’ in the dark / Where there ain’t been no light.” Why might the darkness and absence of light be important elements in this poem? What could they represent?
With thought of the messages of the poem, how might you handle tough times differently?
What all the mother feels about climbing the stairs?
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Unlock now 🔓Back Questions - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
What kind of a life has the mother led? What does she compare her life to?
The mother has led a hard, difficult life. She has faced many obstacles, much like splinters and tacks on stairs. She compares her life to a staircase, but not a smooth, shiny one made of crystal. Instead, her staircase has tacks and splinters. It's torn up and bare, which makes it a tough stairway to climb.
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What is the mother’s advice to her son?
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Unlock now 🔓What character traits of the mother does the poem bring out?
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Unlock now 🔓Don’t you set down on the steps. What does the speaker imply?
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Unlock now 🔓What is the tone and mood of the speaker?
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Unlock now 🔓A metaphor is a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar. Explain the metaphor in this line: Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair. What do metaphors such as ‘tacks’, ‘splinters’ and ‘boards torn up’ suggest?
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Unlock now 🔓The poem is written in the form of a monologue. Do we get a sense of the son’s character even though we don’t hear him speak?
What do you think is the impact of the mother’s words on him?
Give reasons for your answer.
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Unlock now 🔓What images in the poem underline the following?
a. Poverty
b. Struggle
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Unlock now 🔓Why do you think has the poet used vernacular language?
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Unlock now 🔓All of us have a special lady in our lives. She could be anybody—mother, sister, grandmother, aunt. Who is your special lady? Why is she so special? What do you do to show your love and respect for this relationship?
Write a paragraph of about 120 words.
Organize your thoughts below before writing the paragraph.
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Unlock now 🔓Your mother/father/grandparents mean a lot to you yet often there are difference of opinion. How would you resolve the following situations? Role-play in pairs.
1. Your parents want you to study for a professional course but you want to become a singer/dancer.
2. You have a friend that your parents disapprove of but you see nothing wrong with him/her.
3. Your parents want to keep a check on your phone/social media accounts but you think they should trust you enough.
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Unlock now 🔓Quiz - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
Vocabulary - Flashcards - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
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About the Poet - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Born in 1902 in Missouri, Hughes was one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. He wrote about the experiences of African Americans and sought to portray the realities of their lives in his works. Hughes was also deeply involved in the civil rights movement and used his writing to advocate for racial equality. He is considered one of the most significant and influential writers in American literature, and his works continue to be studied and celebrated today. Hughes passed away in 1967.
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Unlock now 🔓Summary - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
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Themes - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
- Perseverance: The poem's central theme is perseverance. The mother advises her son not to give up in the face of adversity. Life has been tough for her, with "tacks," "splinters," and "boards torn up," but she keeps on climbing. She encourages her son not to give up either, no matter how tough life gets.
- Struggle and Hardship: The poem is filled with images of struggle and......................
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Unlock now 🔓Symbols - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
The poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes doesn't contain any specific symbols. However, the mother's metaphorical use of...............................
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Unlock now 🔓Poetic Devices - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
The poem "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes employs several poetic devices to create its powerful and memorable message. Here are some of the most notable poetic devices used in the poem:
- Extended metaphor: The mother's comparison of life to a "crystal stair" is an extended ......................
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Unlock now 🔓Vocabulary - Mother to Son | New Pathways Literature | Class 7 Literature | English
- Tacks (line 4) - small nails with flat heads used for attaching things to surfaces.
- Splinters (line 4) - small, sharp, thin pieces of wood that can break off....................
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