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Assessment 1: Slam, Dunk, & Hook

Last updated about 3 years ago
11 questions
Read "Slam, Dunk, & Hook" by Yusef Komanyakaa. After readuing, answer the following:
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1

What is happening in this poem?

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1

Part A: How does the narrator of the poem explain the players' ability to play basketball?

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1

Part B: Select the textual evidence that best supports the answer to Part A:

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4

Label the following descriptions with either an"M" for metaphor or an "S" for simile:

  • "poised in midair / Like storybook sea monsters"
  • "We were metaphysical when girls / Cheered"
  • "glide like a sparrow hawk"
  • "muscles were a bright motor"
  • Metaphor
  • Simile
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1

Part A: “Sprung rhythm” refers to a way of writing poetry that attempts to imitate the way people normally speak. What does this phrase reveal about the way the players play basketball?

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Part B: Which phrase provides context for the correct answer to Part A?

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"Mercury” is the Roman god of poetry and messages—he is thought to be the fastest of all the gods, and has wings on his feet. What does the reference to “Mercury’s / Insignia on our sneakers” show about the basketball players?

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1

Part A: Which phrase describes Sonny Boy’s reaction to his mother’s death?

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Part B: What does Sonny Boy’s reaction reveal about a theme of the poem?

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How does basketball shape the players’ sense of themselves?

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2

Respond to question 8, below, with a short answer (three to five sentences). Use complete sentences, and provide two pieces of relevant textual evidence to support your explanation. How does Yusef Komunyakaa use descriptive and sensory language to develop a central theme of the poem?