PAK 3: Responses for Poems

Answer ALL prompts in 10 LINES ONLY, using template.

1. In The Seven Ages of Man, how does Jaques’s view of the different stages of life compare with
your own?

The seven stages of life in Jaques’s view are infancy, schoolboy, tennager, young adult,

middle age , old age, and extremely old age. I would compare myself with these stages as

being only 5. The first stage I have already completed, since I have already been born and

not a baby anymore. The second stage in life is exactly how he had described it. In my

childhood I would cry over going to school and not wanting to separate from my parents.

Currently, I’m in the third stage as a teenager slowly entering the fourth stage. As a

Tennager myself it’s where love plays a big picture and trying to figure out exactly what I

want to do in life. Just like in the poem in my fourth stage I want to try and work for a

reputation for myself in life. Finally, I envision myself in the 7th stage not being able to do

anything by myself, because that’s just the way of life we are just players on a stage.

2. In The Seven Ages of Man, how would you describe

Jaques’s diction in lines 2-4?

In line 2 it states “And all men and women merely players” implying that life is a drama

or like a stage and people are “players.” Line 3 “ They all have their exits and their

entrances” symbolizing that men and women enter through birth and exit with death.
 Lastly, in line 4 “ And one man in his lifetime plays many parts” Jacques’s choice of

words explains that humans each have an individual role and multiple parts to play in life.

Jacques’s diction in lines 2-4 is captivating because he explains that life is like a stage

and we are the players going through different phases.

3. In The Road Not Taken, which road would you prefer to take? Why?

In the poem, it talked about the decisions we make in life. We have to choose between a

safe and easy choice, which most people would take or a more challenging route. I

would preferably take the challenging road because since it’s more risky; it can

possibly lead to more paths along the way and help me grow in my future.

4. What does the third stanza of The Road Not Taken imply about human decision-making?

The third stanza of The road not taken implies that after someone has made their decision

humans will tend to look back at the other option,” Was the one I left a better choice.” In

lines 14 and 15 it implies that after people make their decision they doubt to have that

same decision again because one way leads to another way. Therefore , humans wish to

have the opportunity to try that option that they left, but in reality they can’t.

5. What does Goodnight, Willie Lee, I’ll See You in the Morning suggest about the strength of
family?

Goodnight, Willie Lee, I’ll See You in the Morning suggests that the strength of family

isn't always as strong. In the poem, the speaker of the poem is at the funeral of her father.

Unlike how a normal person grieves over a loss her/his mother feels no emotion, but

instead says “ Goodnight, Willie Lee, I’ll See You in the Morning”, I can infer that her

husband was abusive or they didn’t have a healthy relationship. In addition, once the

narrator’s mom had said that she/ he knew that the healing of their wounds was
 forgiveness. The narrator’s mother had the courage to forgive him after what her husband

had done. This suggests that even when the strength of family isn’t strong, in order to

repair that love or relationship you have to forgive each other.

6. In My Mother Combs My Hair, why has the daughter’s hair been a source of conflict between the
mother and daughter?

The daughther’s hair has been a source of conflict between the mother and daughter

because the mother believes that without beautiful hair her daughter is never going to get

married; in other words it’s respect for traditional values. The daughter is from a new

generation and doesn’t believe that really matters. In the poem, the daughter had permed

her hair. She doesn’t care about her hair like her mom did and doesn’t want to follow

those traditional values.

7. What is the most effective simile in My Mother Combs My Hair? Why do you think it is most
effective?

The most effective simile in My mother Combs my hair is when the speaker of the poem

compares the silence between the daughter and her mother as a live wire. I believe this

is the most effective simile because the silence being compared like a live wire which

is dangerous to come close to or even touching it, shows the tension between them . The

mother and daughter will not see each other from their point of view, because of their

cultural differences.