Safa Khan

1/21/2021
English Honors 1/ 8th Grade
Sr. Soofia

“Hugging the Jukebox” Tasks

Task 1: Analyze fig. language - text evidence from the poem - (3-4 sentences)

Answer: Figurative language is a type of language which uses different figures of speech, for
example, a metaphor or a simile are two of the seven types of figurative language. Figurative
language is used throughout this poem, one example is “..and the chairs in this old dance hall
jerk to attention.” (line 35) we know the chairs cannot physically jerk up. Another example of
figurative language used in the poem is “How can a giant whale live in the small pool of his
chest.” (line 11), Alfred's voice seems so physiologically impossible to have, but he still seems
to carry it in his small body.
Task 2: Analyze the deeper meaning of the poem, the bigger picture, or a hidden narrative (No
wrong answers- this is a creative task) 3--4 sentences

Answer: “Hugging the Jukebox” may seem fun and whimsical, but this poem has a deeper
meaning. Alfred is only 6 years old, at this age, a child is still going through the early stages of
their emotional and mental upbringing. As an infant, Alfred may have heard these songs being
sung to him, when he heard those songs on the jukebox playing, he may have connected the
jukebox to his mother. His mother may have sung those songs to him as a child, he doesn’t
understand how the jukebox works and may symbolize it as his mother figure. He treasures this
jukebox and has learned the power of his voice. While he may not understand the meaning of the
words he is singing, the emotional connection he has to them from his younger years brings back
an emotional attachment. Using the power of his voice, he can express his emotions and take
them to a more compelling level.

Task 3- Write a stanza back to "Alfred" to console him or buck him up. It should Rhyme (4 lines
or six your choice)

The night before the hurricane hit,

the spark of Alfred’s imagination was lit.
it was like he went back in time,
to his younger days of prime.
He heard a sweet voice like honey say,
“we love you son Happy Birthday!”
He saw this jukebox same as old,
except another story was told.
And so, when the lighting changed,
there was something different something strange.
Instead of hearing the same songs,
he heard the sweet voice singing along.
But then there was a flash of light,
And Alfred opened his eyes to see
He was back home where he should be.
And so, he looked out to the distance afar,
“I love you too, wherever you are.”
Task 4: Does this poem give you an idea of how a deceased Sherpa's child might feel?
(2 sentences, yes or no clearly stated, with a brief explanation- text connection question)

Answer: When you think about 6-year-old Albert from “Hugging the Jukebox” and a child
without a father (who was a Sherpa) from “The Value of a Sherpa Life” they both may be
experiencing very similar emotions. When you think of young Alfred, with no parents around, it
reminds us of what a Sherpa child may feel when they lose their father, who is the prime
provider for their family as well as their protector. The loss of a parental figure in any way is
irresolvable, its hard to imagine that a real child, in a 3rd world country is feeling things that we
are seeing in a fictional piece of writing. Reading this poem gives us unseen insight into what a
young child may be feeling, things we see in fiction have become our dismal society.