Questions for Responsive Reading and Writing
The Game – Judith Ortiz Cofer
1.Who is the speaker? Is it possible to determine the speaker’s age, sex, sensibilities, level of awareness, and values?
The speaker is a young woman that views the struggles of her younger sister. I would say that the speaker is 10 to 12 years old and cares very much about the situation that her sister is in.
2.Is the speaker addressing anyone in particular?
Yes the speaker address’s her younger sister that is humpbacked and treated differently because of this.
3.How do you respond to the speaker? Favorably? Negatively? What is the situation? Are there any special circumstances that inform what the speaker says?
I found the speaker to be very kind and caring. She was very favorable and you get the sense that she really cares about he younger sisters condition of being humpbacked.
4.Is there a specific setting of time and place?
The specific time is when the author is of school age and most of the poem takes place in the setting of their home.
5.Does reading the poem aloud help you to understand it?
Reading it aloud makes me realize how much she cares for her sister and wishes that she was not in this situation. She tries to make her sister feel normal even tough she is not treated normal by other people.
6.Does a paraphrase reveal the basic purpose of the poem?
The second stanza reveals to us that the child has been like this since birth and she has had to battle with being treated differently. This stanza tells us that the young girl is looked upon almost as a curse.
7.What does the title emphasize?
The title tells us that the young girl is just a pawn that is moved through life as everyone else wants her to be. She does not have a chance to make her own moves and decide her destiny.
8.Is the theme presented directly or indirectly?
The theme is present from the very beginning. In this poem you don’t have to speculate what the poem is about. From the very beginning we know exactly what the author is trying to portray.
9.Do any allusions enrich the poems meaning?
No there are no allusions that are present in this poem.
10.How does the diction reveal meaning? Are any words repeated? Do any carry evocative connotative meanings? Are there any puns or other forms of verbal wit?
This poem contains an informal dictation meaning that it contains everyday language that is easy to understand. There are really no verbal wit due to the fact that the author is portraying a sincere tone.
11.Are figures of speech used? How does the figurative language contribute to the poem’s vividness and meaning?
No there are not really figures of speech but rather comparison to describe the girl’s situation. The comparison that stood out to me the most was “on first seeing the child curled into a question mark.” This gives us a good visual.
12.Do any objects, persons, places, events, or actions have allegorical or symbolic meaning? What other details in the poem support your interpretation?
This poem contains characters that have allegorical meaning. This is because the main idea of this poem revolves around the young that is humpback. It is supported because throughout the whole poem it tells the girls life of being humpback.
13.Is irony used? Are there any examples of situational irony, verbal irony, or dramatic irony? Is understatement or paradox used?
Irony is not really used in this poem because from the beginning we know the girls situation. If there was any irony it would be about the older sister playing with the young girl.
14.What is the tone of the poem? Is the tone consistent?
The tone throughout the whole poem is constant and has a mellow caring tone.
15.Does the poem use onomatopoeia, assonance, consonance, or alliteration? How do these sounds affect you?
This poem contains an onomatopoeia sound because it uses words that resembles the sound it denotes. This gives the poem a smooth flow.
16.What sounds are repeated? If there are rhymes, what is there effect? Do they seem forced or natural? Is there a rhyme scheme? Do the rhymes contribute to the poems meaning?
Throughout this poem there is a natural rhythm that appears to be fast and smooth. This helps the poem to guide easily from one word to the next. The easy flow of the poem gives the poem a peaceful feeling.
17.Do the lines have a regular meter? What is the predominate meter? Are there significant variations? Does the rhythm seem appropriate for the poem’s tone?
The lines in this poem contain a regular meter. There is a presence of a falling meter but towards the end it becomes a rising meter. The rhythm and tone flow well together.
18.Does the poem’s form –its overall structure- follow an established pattern? Do you think the form is a suitable vehicle for the poem’s meaning and effects?
There is not really a definite pattern in this poem because it is more of a story telling poem rather than a structural poem. This fits the meaning that the author is trying to get across with this poem.
19.Is the language of the poem intense and concentrated? Do you think it warrants more than one or two close readings?
The language is not intense and concentrated but rather freeing and enlightening. This poem deserves more than one reading but it doesn’t require more than one reading to understand what the author is portraying.
20.Did you enjoy the poem? What, specifically, pleased or displeased you about what was expressed and how it was expressed?
I loved this poem. I felt very connected to this poem because I think of myself as a kind caring person that loves to help people out. One thing that pleased me in this poem took place at the end when the author tells us how she plays house with her sister to help her feel normal. This expresses that the author is a very caring person that thinks very carefully about her actions.
21.Is there a particular critical approach that seems especially appropriate for the poem?
The critical approach that is present in this poem is the biographical criticism because the authors experiences play an important role in the writing of this poem.
22.How might biographical information about the author help to determine the poem’s central concerns?
I think that this poem gives us enough information about the author to help us realize the central concern. One thing that might add to the poem is if we know exactly how old the author is so we get a better understanding of the author’s maturity.
23.How might historical information about the poem provide a useful context for interpretation?
The only information that could help the story have a deeper meaning would be to give a better time period so we know how the public views her sister’s disability.
24.To what extent do your own experiences, values, beliefs, and assumptions inform your interpretation?
I feel that I have a heart that goes out at the first sight that another person needs help so I feel that I interpret this situation the way that I would act in this situation.
25.What kind of evidence from the poem are you focusing on to support your interpretation? Does your interpretation leave out any important elements that might undercut or qualify your interpretation?
The element that stands out to me the most is the sincerity of the poem and how much the girl cares about her younger sister. I think my interpretation grasps the whole meaning of what the author is portraying.
26.Given that there are a variety of ways to interpret the poem, which one seems the most useful to you?
The most useful way for me to interpret the poem is to break it down in sections and find the meaning of each individual section.
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