1 What collection was "The Thing Is" published in? The Human Line Mules of Love Like a Beggar Indigo 2 What year did the collection in which "The Thing Is" was first published come out? 2018 2010 1977 2002 3 Which best describes what "The Thing Is" is about? The speaker tells her lover to bring over her pain. The speaker describes God like a disappointed and grieving parent. The speaker holds her despair the way she held her babies when they were young. The speaker instructs readers to love life even amidst the difficult heaviness of grief. 4 What award did Mules of Love receive? Pulitzer Prize Rattle Poetry Prize Nobel Peace Prize Lambda Literary Award 5 Which is not a theme in "The Thing Is"? Grief and the Body Avoiding Grief Loving Life Resilience and Agency 6 How does the concept of resilience appear in the poem? Resilience does not appear as a concept in the poem. The speaker argues that readers should succumb to their grief. The word "resilience" appears twice in quick succession. The speaker argues that one must choose to love life even in difficult circumstances. 7 How does Bass write about the body in "The Thing Is?" Grief wrecks the human body and should be avoided at all cost. The human body does not appear in the poem. Not only does experiencing grief affect various parts of the human body, but grief is given its own bodily presence in the poem. The body is extremely fragile and cannot handle the weight of grief. 8 How is life personified in the poem? As an enemy. As having a "plain face" with "no charming smile" or "violet eyes." As tropical heat. As a figure that sits with you. 9 Define "violet." A bluish-purple color Another word for violence A flower A shade of red 10 Which is not a symbol in the poem? Stomach Lambs Burnt Paper Tropical Heat 11 Which best characterizes the voices in Bass's poems? Bitter, Pensive Shrewd, Ironic Conversational, Accessible Joyful, Celebratory 12 Which points of view appear in "The Thing Is"? First Person Third Person All of the perspectives Second Person 13 What is the poem's meter? Iambic Tetrameter Blank Verse Free verse Iambic Pentameter 14 Which quote contains an example of alliteration? "and everything you’ve held dear" "Then you hold life like a face" "to love life, to love it even" "crumbles like burnt paper in your hands" 15 Which quote contains an example of assonance? "your throat filled with the silt of it" "when you have no stomach for it" "When grief sits with you, its tropical heat" "only more of it, an obesity of grief," 16 What is an example of irony in this poem? When the air of grief is more fit for gills than lungs. When everything dear crumbles like burnt paper. When grief is portrayed as tropical heat. Bass does not use irony in this poem. 17 Which best describes the tone of the poem? Hopeful, Optimistic, Submissive Bitter, Resentful, Rageful Pensive, Resentful, Prideful Optimistic, Resilient, Loving 18 Finish this quote: "when grief weights you down___" like a weight like your life as if you are pummeled like your own flesh 19 What is the poem's thesis? One should hold grief like the face of a lover. One should avoid grief at all cost. One should have a charming smile to make good impressions. One should choose to love life in any circumstances, including grief. 20 Which is one way that grief is not characterized? A presence that sits with you. Tropical heat. An overabundance of flesh. A baby to be held. 21 Which is an anaphora in the poem? Then you I will Thickening The thing is 22 What is personified in the poem? Love Grief Grief and Life Life 23 What does the phrase "the thing is" mean? It is part of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is used in the court of law to introduce a case. It is used to introduce an explanation or issue. It is used in formal settings. 24 What is something that Bass has expressed is important to her in terms of her poetic craft? Despair Nature Transformation Denial 25 Bass calls herself a(n) ___ poet. historical fake Instagram praise