Question

When describing her daughter's haircut, the speaker says, "Each strand now cuts / both ways." What is the most likely interpretation of lines 6-7? A The daughter's hair hangs unevenly in front of her face. B The mother both likes and dislikes the daughter's new hairstyle. C The daughter's growing independence can hurt both mother and daughter. D The mother wants her daughter to be independent but is afraid for her safety.

Answer 1

Question

When describing her daughter's haircut, the speaker says, "Each strand now cuts / both ways." What is the most likely interpretation of lines 6-7?

A) The daughter's hair hangs unevenly in front of her face.

B) The mother both likes and dislikes the daughter's new hairstyle.

C) The daughter's growing independence can hurt both mother and daughter.

D) The mother wants her daughter to be independent but is afraid for her safety.  

Answer:

The correct answer is D)

 

Explanation:

Sharon Old in her poem alludes to the growing nature of her daughters' independence when she suggests in lines 13-15 that her daughter started as part of her own body like something which was next to nothing and that now, the word daughter no longer adequately describes the relationship between them.

In lines 17 to 20, she suggests that she wants her daughters independence but she has to help her daughter ease into it. She knows it will happen but not without a fight.

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