A3 ELA gr7 23-24 Form C Online
2 of 152 of 15 Item s
Feature
“Fifteen”
By William Stafford
Read the poem, and then answer the questions.
South of the bridge on Seventeenth
I found back of the willows one summer
day a motorcycle with engine running
as it lay on its side, ticking over
slowly in the high grass. I was fifteen.
I admired all that pulsing gleam, the
shiny flanks, the demure headlights
fringed where it lay; I led it gently
to the road and stood with that
companion, ready and friendly. I was fifteen.
We could find the end of a road, meet
the sky on out Seventeenth. I thought about
hills, and patting the handle got back a
confident opinion. On the bridge we indulged
a forward feeling, a tremble. I was fifteen.
Thinking, back farther in the grass I found
the owner, just coming to, where he had flipped
over the rail. He had blood on his hand, was pale—
I helped him walk to his machine. He ran his hand
over it, called me good man, roared away.
I stood there, fifteen.
William Stafford, “Fifteen” from Ask Me: 100 Essential Poems. Copyright © 1966, 2014 by William Stafford and the Estate of William Stafford. Reprinted with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc. on behalf of Graywolf Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota, www.graywolfpress.org.
Question
Why does the speaker repeat the phrase “I was fifteen” at the ends of stanzas 1–3?
Responses
A He wants to justify his indecision and lack of experience. He wants to justify his indecision and lack of experience.
B He wants to convince himself that he is old enough to ride the motorcycle.He wants to convince himself that he is old enough to ride the motorcycle.
C He wants to emphasize his youth compared to the owner of the motorcycle.He wants to emphasize his youth compared to the owner of the motorcycle.
D He wants to highlight the tension between his desires and the limitations of his age.He wants to highlight the tension between his desires and the limitations of his age.
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Correct answer: C
Explanation: The speaker repeats the phrase "I was fifteen" at the ends of stanzas 1-3 in order to emphasize his youth compared to the owner of the motorcycle. This highlights the speaker's admiration for the motorcycle and his interactions with the older, more experienced motorcycle owner.