The Living Photograph (Jackie Kay)

Practice 1

(a) In stanza 2, which word means bent back?

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(b) Why do you think the soup forgot to boil?
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(c) Which line suggests that the persona and her grandmother are of different races?
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(d) My tall grandmother became small
Besides losing her height, what other problem might have existed as the grandmother became old?
Provide a reason for your answer.
Problem : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 2

(a) In stanza 1, which words describe the grandmothers hair?

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(b) How old is the persona in the photograph?
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(c) Do you think the grandmother is a brave person?
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(d) She went to the awful place grandmothers go
Where does the persona think her grandmother has gone to? Provide a reason for your answer.
Place : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 3

(a) In stanza 1, which word in the poem means folded?

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(b) How does the persona feel when she was looking at the photo of her and her grandmother?
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(c) Which phrase tells us that the grandmother is no longer standing up straight?
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(d) My small grandmother is tall there,
How has age affected the personas grandmother? Provide a reason for your answer.
Answer : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 4

(a) In stanza 3, which word in the poem means wrinkled?

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(b) Where has the personas grandmother gone to?
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(c) Describe the contrast between the first and the second stanza.
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(d) in the photograph with me at three,
What kind of age gap do you think existed between the persona and her grandmother? Provide a reason
for your answer.
Age gap : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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The Charge of the Light Brigade (Alfred, Lord Tennyson)

Practice 1

(a) In stanza 2, which phrase in the poem means to go forward over a set distance?
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(b) What were the soldiers told to do when they rode into the valley?
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(c) Why do you think the soldiers followed the order even if it would cause their death?
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(d) Volleyed and thundered
Despite getting attacked from all sides, the soldiers continued on. What consequences would the
soldiers have to face if they decide to retreat? Provide a reason for your answer.
Consequences : ___________________________________________________________________
Reason : ___________________________________________________________________
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Practice 2

(a) In stanza 2, which word in the poem means made a mistake?

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(b) Not though the soldiers knew
From this line in stanza 2, what do you think the soldiers know?
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(c) Why do you think the persona asked whether there was a man dismayed?
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(d) Boldly they rode well,
There are many jobs today that require people to be brave. Give another example of a job that requires
bravery. Provide a reason for your answer.
Job : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 3

(a) In stanza 3, which word in the poem means fired together in one go?
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(b) What kind of scenario did the soldiers ride into?
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(c) Explain why you think the commander gave a bad order?
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(d) Theirs not to reason why,
Soldiers are required to carry out their orders without question. What do you think will result if soldiers
were allowed to question their superior? Provide a reason for your answer.
Result : _________________________________________________________________________
Reason : _________________________________________________________________________
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Practice 4

(a) In stanza 1, which word in the poem means frightened?

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(b) How many men were there in the cavalry?
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(c) Why did the soldiers carry on into the valley even though they were attacked from all sides?
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(d) Into the jaws of Death,
Given the circumstances, would the soldiers be able to carry out their orders with overwhelming
success? Provide a reason for your answer.
Rate of success : ___________________________________________________________________
Reason : ___________________________________________________________________
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