Cynthia in the Snow by Gwendolyn Brooks

Cynthia in the Snow by Gwendolyn Brooks
It SHUSHES
It hushes
The loudness in the road.
It flitter-twitters,
And laughs away from me.
It laughs a lovely whiteness,
And whitely whirls away,
To be
Some otherwhere,
Still white as milk or shirts,
So beautiful it hurts.

1. Who is the likely speaker of the poem?
   a. A mom
   b. A student
   c. Cynthia
   d. There is no speaker
2. In what season is this poem set?
   a. Spring
   b. Summer
   c. Fall
   d. Winter
3. “It SHUSHES/It hushes” uses what literary techniques?
   a. Alliteration and personification b. Onomatopoeia and simile
   c. Onomatopoeia and Alliteration d. Onomatopoeia and
   personification
4. “Still white as milk or shirts” uses what use of figurative language?
   a. Simile
   b. Metaphor
   c. Hyperbole
   d. Personification
5. “It laughs a lovely whiteness,/and whitely whirls away” uses
   a. Alliteration and personification b. Onomatopoeia and simile c. Onomatopoeia and Alliteration d. Onomatopoeia and
   personification
6. What is type of rhyme does line 4 use?
   a. Internal rhyme
   b. End rhyme

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

1. Who is the likely speaker of the poem?
   Answer: c. Cynthia Explanation: The title of the poem is Cynthia in the Snow, suggesting that the speaker is likely Cynthia herself. In the poem, the speaker describes the snow in a way that seems personal and reflective, indicating that the poem’s speaker is observing the snow with a sense of closeness or intimacy. This supports the idea that the speaker could be Cynthia, who is experiencing the snow firsthand.
2. In what season is this poem set?
   Answer: d. Winter Explanation: The poem mentions snow and describes it as “white as milk or shirts,” which is a clear reference to winter. Snow is a characteristic feature of the winter season, and the poem’s imagery focuses on the snow’s whiteness and beauty, which are associated with winter weather.
3. “It SHUSHES/It hushes” uses what literary techniques?
   Answer: d. Onomatopoeia and personification Explanation: The words “SHUSHES” and “hushes” are examples of onomatopoeia, as they mimic the sound of quietness or silence. The repetition of the sound gives the sense of something soft and gentle. Additionally, the poem gives the snow the human-like quality of “shushing,” which is personification—attributing a human characteristic to something non-human (the snow).
4. “Still white as milk or shirts” uses what use of figurative language?
   Answer: a. Simile Explanation: This line uses a simile, a figure of speech that compares two things using “as” or “like.” The snow is being compared to milk and shirts, emphasizing its whiteness. The comparison highlights the purity and brightness of the snow.
5. “It laughs a lovely whiteness,/and whitely whirls away” uses
   Answer: a. Alliteration and personification Explanation: The phrase “laughs a lovely whiteness” contains alliteration because of the repetition of the “l” sound in “laughs” and “lovely.” It also involves personification, as snow is given the human ability to “laugh.” The snow is described as having a lively, almost playful quality as it swirls away.
6. What type of rhyme does line 4 use?
   Answer: a. Internal rhyme Explanation: In line 4, “It flitter-twitters,” the rhyme is found within the line itself, as “flitter” and “twitters” rhyme with each other. This is an example of internal rhyme, where rhyming words occur within a single line of poetry rather than at the end of different lines (which would be end rhyme). The use of internal rhyme enhances the musical quality of the poem.