Question

In the poem "Hanging Fire," what is the significance of the line "and momma's in the bedroom with her door closed" in terms of "holding back"?
A.
She wants to talk to her mom about her worries and is hesitant to approach her.

B.
She is afraid she will be punished for bothering her mother.

C.
She wants to show off her appearance to her mother.

D.
She needs help with learning to dance before the next party.

Answer 1

Answer: A. She wants to talk to her mom about her worries and is hesitant to approach her.

The poem "Hanging Fire" by Audre Lorde is meant to give us a glimpse into a teenage girl's mind. The author jumps from one thought to the next in a desperate fashion. The thoughts seem unrelated and scrambled, but they are all concerned with topics that would worry a fourteen year old. The style is meant to give us the feeling of confusion and worry that is common among teenagers.

However, at the end of each nervous train of thought, the girl notices her mother is in the bedroom with the door closed. It implies that she would like some help, and she would like to turn to her mother. But there is some slight difficulty, which is the closed door. However, the obstacle is not difficult enough to put her off the idea completely, which is why she keeps noticing it. This ambivalence leaves her in a constant state of hesitation, but she does not approach her mother in the end.