Rita Dove: Poems Essay Questions

Essay Questions

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by people who wish to remain anonymous

  1. 1

    What allusion does “Teach us to Number Our Days” entail?

    “Teach us to Number Our Days” is a religious allusion mirrored in Psalms 90:12. The Psalm accentuates the veracity concerning the circumscribed lifespan. The capability to quantify one’s day illustrates astuteness regarding the ephemerality of life.

  2. 2

    Explain the religious allusion in “Testimonial”.

    Rita Dove alludes to the Genesis accounts concerning the instigation of existence: “Back when the earth was new/ and heaven was just a whisper,/back when the names of things/ hadn’t had time to stick.” Referencing Genesis clarifications imparts an ample backdrop for Rita to pronounce the foundation of her life. The inaugurations (of the world and Rita Dove) are parallel in the sense that they depict novelty.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

GradeSaver will pay $15 for your literature essays
GradeSaver will pay $25 for your college application essays
GradeSaver will pay $50 for your graduate school essays – Law, Business, or Medical
GradeSaver will pay $10 for your Community Note contributions
GradeSaver will pay $500 for your Textbook Answer contributions