Question

where the wind went crazy. by joyce carol oates
the tops of the palm trees are smashed
palm leaves hang, down shredded
limp and light as threads
the trunks like concrete
that never lived
mammoth towers
uninhabited
i feel the two of us grown to
mammoth towers
our heads dizzied by the height
time is piled beneath us
blocks pushing us up
there is motion of nerves between us
strung between us like wires
lovers, we need no hurricane
to make war upon each other
and each cell of our living tissue
is at peace

1. why does the poet describe palm trees?

a. she likes palm trees.
b. she is comparing palm trees and telephone poles.
c. she is comparing lovers to palm trees torn up by a hurricane.
d. she is comparing palm trees to a hurricane.
e. she is comparing palm trees to empty apartment buildings.

1. which statement below best describes what the poet means by “there is motion of nerve between us strung between us like wires?”

a. she feels like a palm tree.
b. there is a sense of tension, like electricity, between the lovers.
c. the hurricane makes her nervous.
d. she feels like a tower.
e. she is insane.

Explanation:

For question 21, in the poem, the description of palm trees with "the tops...smashed", "palm leaves hang, down shredded" etc., is a comparison to lovers (as in the lines about lovers later in the poem). For question 22, the metaphor "motion of nerves between us strung between us like wires" implies a sense of tension (like electricity which has a sense of energy/tension) between the lovers.

Answer:

1. b. She is comparing lovers to palm trees tom up by a hurricane.
2. b. There is a sense of tension, like electricity, between the lovers.