1 From whose perspective is the poem told? First-person perspective from the perspective of someone living in poverty First-person perspective of an adult recounting the instance of a burst municipal pipe when they were a child First-person perspective of a woman gathering water from a burst municipal pipe Someone recounting the scene of a burst water pipe in an impoverished community afflicted with drought. 2 Describe the poem's stanzas. Three quatrains Four stanzas of varying length Five stanzas of varying length Four quatrains 3 Which of the following is NOT a metaphor or simile? "the small splash" "the voice of a kindly god" "The skin cracks like a pod" "silver crashes to the ground" 4 What is a metaphor? The repetition of the same sound at the start of a series of words in succession A person, object, place, event, or action that suggests more than its literal meaning Metaphor is a comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated using the words "like" or "as" Metaphor is a description of one thing as a different, unrelated thing 5 Finish this quote: "The skin cracks like _" the ground a pipe a seed a pod 6 Define "pod" as used in the poem. an elongated seed vessel of a leguminous plant such as the pea, splitting open on both sides when ripe a flowering plant's unit of reproduction, capable of developing into another such plant a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers. 7 Which is the shortest stanza? The third The second The first The fourth 8 What is the effect of the shortest stanza? To show an outpouring of water There is no effect To demonstrate a bursting pipe To convey the severity of drought 9 What is the poem's meter? Free verse Iambic pentameter Iambic trimeter Iambic tetrameter 10 Which is an example of onomatopoeia? drip fortune echo mug 11 What is onomatopoeia? A comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated using the words "like" or "as" The repetition of vowel sounds without repeating consonants The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words 12 Where has Dharker specified as the setting of "Blessing"? Dharavi in Mumbai Rajendra Nagar in Bangalore Bhalsw in Delhi Daravi in Bombay 13 Is the exact setting (name of the community) specified in the poem? Yes—Dharavi in Mumbai No Yes—Rajendra Nagar in Bangalore Yes—Daravi in Bombay 14 Which of the following is not a symbol in the poem? Light Water The municipal Pipe Pots 15 What is the poem's tone? Pensive, Happy Bitter, Bleak Critical, Hopeful Joyful, Celebratory 16 What word is NOT used to describe water? Gold Blessing Flow Silver 17 What does the blessing do at the end of the poem? Flow towards the river Roar out from the pipe Sing to the people gathering Sing over the small bones of the children 18 Which of the following best alludes to how densely populated the neighborhood is? with pots, brass, copper, aluminium, plastic buckets and naked children screaming in the liquid sun There never is enough water. every man woman child for streets around butts in 19 Which sense does Dharker particularly engage with in this poem? Gustatory Tactile Auditory Olfactory 20 Which is a synecdoche? and naked children screaming in the liquid sun, frantic hands the sudden rush The skin cracks like a pod. 21 What is synecdoche? A word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated A person, object, place, event, or action that suggests more than its literal meaning. A comparison between two things that are otherwise unrelated. A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa 22 In the poem, water is personified as a: A child A lover Deity A fellow community member 23 Which of the following is NOT an explicit theme in the poem? Drought The importance of water The presence of children The active struggle between the community and the government 24 What does water transform into when the pipe bursts? A form of currency that causes strife A killing force An angry god A form of currency and a blessing 25 What do the children reveal as being necessary to life? Gratitude, solemnity, and prayer Resilience, street smarts, and enjoyment Enjoyment, gratitude, and play Prayer, presence, and obedience