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AP Success - AP English Literature: The Prisoner's Song

       *     *           *     *           The
third            arrow flew
upward                      and stuck           we rode back
sun birds                        bedeviled            the
5
great stem         its reflected
words                fast thunder           hills         a
molten                        mass         small clouds
of stones                        green rushes
waylaid                       spirits onto         lava beds
10
post removed                stone broken
face turned             down         to earth           *
*           *    *    I dropped out    the little hangnail
blanket of a                       door            sun
strapped          to my back    so everyone could feel    I
15
was sinking           *    *           *    *    I dried out
woke up    sprouted wings                and flew away
*    *                        Looking Glass is dead
The circular blue paper is the sky                      We
see some green spots which are pleasing
20
Are the commissioners clear as I am?                      I
gave them a blue flag which they pretended to cherish
I live in hopes I do not have two hearts
The Illinois River will rise                      A single
warrior to write beyond without me
25
Death at the hands of the long guns                      Did
I say death? Or the springs are drying up?
Find the break where blood runs clear
Through the love you bear your gallant little band
*    *             “Not to reverse history              but
30
to draw out the strength” *      Write in the corridor  to
be no speaking  Sing in the hall  to be no dancing  Cry in
the street  to be no leading  Break into the house  to be no
sleeping  Feel in the closet  to be no running  Fight in the
dome  to be no screaming  Lie down in the dark  to be no
35
changing           *    *     Are the commissioners clear as
I am? The dampness of night pierces my shield. Two dead men
push a stick through my buttonhole. The sun looks down on me
as complete. I want you to look and smile — red with iron
black. With all of my heart I thank my black-robed friends
40
for their kindness. Columns of steel rise. I was glad to
hear the black robes had given you this shimmer of elongated
nights, left to waver in the void. They know how to die in
battle. They are a twist in the black mirror, that river
between the city and the mist. We will produce no sane men
45
again. They come back different and the same. They roam over
hills and plains and wish the heavens would fall. You issued
the first soldiers and we only answered back, seeking air. I
have sent many words that were drowned along the way. The
wind is full of bottles and the air aggressive, a red
50
feather placed into black hair.
Source 1: The Prisoner's Song by Cedar Sigo; Source: Poetry (June 2018)
1
In lines 1-3, the phrase "The third arrow flew upward and stuck" primarily serves to
  • signify the culmination of a series of actions
  • illustrate a failed attempt or effort
  • introduce a sense of impending danger or conflict
  • symbolize hope or aspiration
  • create a setting of ancient warfare
2
The description in lines 6-7 ("a molten mass small clouds of stones") uses imagery to
  • describe the aftermath of a destructive event
  • set a serene and peaceful scene
  • convey the intensity and chaos of a natural phenomenon
  • indicate the passage of time in the narrative
  • symbolize the characters' emotional turmoil
3
In lines 13-14 ("blanket of a door sun strapped to my back"), the juxtaposition of "blanket" and "sun" primarily serves to
  • illustrate a surreal or dream-like state
  • describe a physical transformation
  • create a contrast between comfort and burden
  • evoke a sense of warmth and safety
  • symbolize protection and guidance
4
The phrase "I dried out woke up sprouted wings and flew away" (lines 15-16) can be interpreted as an expression of
  • a literal transformation or supernatural event
  • the cycle of nature and rebirth
  • liberation or escape from a difficult situation
  • a dream or hallucination
  • defeat and resignation
5
In lines 20-22 ("Are the commissioners clear as I am? I gave them a blue flag"), the speaker's interaction with the "commissioners" suggests
  • a declaration of victory or superiority
  • a plea for understanding or agreement
  • a symbolic exchange of peace or truce
  • a critique of authority or leadership
  • confusion or miscommunication
6
The question "Did I say death?" in line 26 serves to
  • signify a change in the speaker's perspective
  • emphasize the inevitability of death
  • highlight the importance of word choice in communication
  • challenge the reader's interpretation of the text
  • introduce a theme of uncertainty or confusion
7
The series of commands in lines 31-34 ("Sing in the hall to be no dancing Cry in the street to be no leading") primarily illustrates
  • a society's restrictive rules and regulations
  • the chaos and confusion in the community
  • the futility of resistance or rebellion
  • a ritual or ceremony with specific guidelines
  • the speaker's authority and control
8
The repetition of "Are the commissioners clear as I am?" (lines 20 and 35) serves to
  • emphasize the speaker's desire for clarity or understanding
  • question the reliability or trustworthiness of the commissioners
  • illustrate the cyclical nature of the narrative
  • highlight the speaker's isolation or uniqueness
  • create a sense of urgency or importance
9
The image of "Two dead men push a stick through my buttonhole" (line 36) most likely symbolizes
  • the presence of death or the supernatural
  • a sense of violation or intrusion
  • the speaker's connection to the past
  • a threat or danger looming over the speaker
  • a ritual or tradition being performed
10
In the context of the passage, the phrase "Columns of steel rise" (line 40) could be interpreted as
  • a metaphor for the challenges the speaker faces
  • a reference to industrialization or modernization
  • the construction or emergence of a new structure
  • the speaker's feeling of entrapment or confinement
  • the resilience and strength of the community
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