Which choice is NOT true about the poem “Midway”?
The poet used meter to give the
poem a songlike rhythm.
Midway
by Noomi Long Madgett
I’ve come this far to freedom and I won’t turn back
I’m climbing to the highway from my old dirt track
I’m coming and I’m going
And I’m stretching and I’m growing
And I’ll reap what I’ve been sowing or my skin’s not black
I’ve prayed and slaved and waited and I’ve sung my song
You’ve bled me and you’ve starved me but I’ve still grown strong
You’ve lashed me and you’ve treed me
And you’ve everything but freed me
But in time you’ll know you need me and it won’t be long,
I’ve seen the daylight breaking high above the bough
I’ve found my detination and I’ve made my vow:
So whether you abhor me
Orderde me or ignore me
Mighty mountains loom before me and I won’t stop now.
In each stanza, the poet told about an African American’s truggle for freedom and equality
The poet used a different rhyme scheme in each stanza,
In the first and last stanzas, the poet created images of someone on challenging journey.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The choice that is NOT true about the poem “Midway” is:
“The poet used a different rhyme scheme in each stanza.”
Explanation:
Let’s examine the poem and analyze each statement:
- The poet used meter to give the poem a songlike rhythm:
- This statement is true. The poem does indeed have a rhythm that is similar to a song. The use of meter, which refers to the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables, contributes to the musicality of the poem. The rhythm, combined with repetitive phrasing such as “I’m coming and I’m going” or “And I’ll reap what I’ve been sowing,” gives the poem a sense of movement, similar to a song.
- In each stanza, the poet told about an African American’s struggle for freedom and equality:
- This statement is true. The poem describes the hardships faced by African Americans in their fight for freedom and equality. Through references to “I’ve prayed and slaved and waited” and “You’ve bled me and you’ve starved me,” the poet portrays the suffering endured by African Americans under oppression. The central theme is one of resilience, as the speaker vows not to turn back or be defeated.
- The poet used a different rhyme scheme in each stanza:
- This statement is false. Upon closer examination of the poem, it becomes clear that the rhyme scheme remains consistent throughout. For instance, the rhyme scheme in each stanza follows an AABCCB pattern. The rhyming words in each stanza (e.g., “back,” “track,” “growing,” “sowing,” “black”) follow this established pattern, demonstrating that the poet uses the same rhyme scheme throughout.
- In the first and last stanzas, the poet created images of someone on a challenging journey:
- This statement is true. Both the first and last stanzas contain imagery of struggle and perseverance. The first stanza speaks of “climbing to the highway from my old dirt track,” which symbolizes the transition from hardship to the pursuit of freedom. Similarly, in the last stanza, the line “Mighty mountains loom before me and I won’t stop now” reinforces the idea of an ongoing journey filled with challenges but unwavering determination.
In conclusion, the statement about the poet using a different rhyme scheme in each stanza is false because the rhyme scheme remains consistent throughout the poem.