Instructions
Read the poem below, which is based on a famous piece of folklore from the Chicago area. After reading, answer the questions that follow. The questions will test your reading comprehension, your understanding of literary devices, and your ability to think critically about the story's meaning.
On Archer Avenue, where shadows stretch and stray,
And headlights cut the gloom and fade away,
A silhouette as pale as bone appears,
A lonely figure through the passing years.In a formal gown of faded white,
She stands beneath the dim suburban light.
Her thumb extends, a fragile, hopeful sign,
A traveler lost on that dividing line.The driver stops, unlocks the passenger door,
For a girl who looks like she's been there before.
Her eyes are blue, her answers soft and few,
A silent passenger, and somber, too.She asks for nothing but a simple ride,
With some unspoken sorrow deep inside.
"Just up ahead," she whispers, pointing past,
Towards a future that was never meant to last.And as the car approaches iron gates,
Where Resurrection Cemetery waits,
The air grows cold, the seat beside is bare,
She’s vanished into the chilling, empty air.The legend tells of dancing, music's swell,
A ballroom night, a tragic, final knell.
A sudden crash, a life cut short in stride,
With nowhere left to run and none to hide.So some still see her, wandering and forlorn,
Re-living the night that she was torn
From life and love. The proof, some people say,
Is in the bended bars she passed that day.A ghostly lament, a whispered sigh,
For a dance that never got its last goodbye,
Forever searching on that lonely road,
To finally lay to rest her heavy load.
Part 1: Reading and Comprehension
Answer the following questions based on the information presented in the poem.
- What is the setting of the poem's main action?
- Describe the appearance and demeanor of the ghostly figure.
- What happens to the girl as the car gets near Resurrection Cemetery?
- According to the poem, how did the girl originally die?
- What piece of physical evidence at the cemetery is mentioned in the poem as being part of the legend?
Part 2: Literary Analysis
Identify and explain the following literary elements from the poem.
- Alliteration: Find one line in the poem that contains alliteration (the repetition of the same initial consonant sound). Write the line down.
- Simile: The poem uses a simile to describe the girl's appearance in the first stanza. Write down the simile.
- Mood: What is the overall mood of the poem (the feeling it creates for the reader)? List two or three words to describe it and explain your choice.
- Foreshadowing: How does the line "Towards a future that was never meant to last" act as foreshadowing in the poem?
Part 3: Critical Thinking and Reflection
Answer the following question in a few complete sentences. Your answer should be thoughtful and well-explained.
Why do you think legends like this one (known as the legend of "Resurrection Mary") persist for so many generations? What purpose do ghost stories and local folklore serve in a community?
Answer Key
Part 1: Reading and Comprehension
- The setting is Archer Avenue, near Resurrection Cemetery, at night.
- She is pale, wears a formal white gown, has blue eyes, and is quiet, soft-spoken, and somber.
- She vanishes from the car seat into thin air.
- She was killed in a car crash after leaving a dance at a ballroom.
- The bended bars of the cemetery gate are mentioned as physical evidence.
Part 2: Literary Analysis
- Alliteration: Examples include: "where shadows stretch and stray," or "a dance that never got its last goodbye" (repetition of 'd' and 'g/b' sounds). Student may find other valid examples.
- Simile: "A silhouette as pale as bone."
- Mood: The mood is melancholic, mysterious, somber, and eerie. These words are appropriate because the poem deals with a sad ghost story, an unsolved spiritual mystery, and creates a chilling atmosphere with its imagery of darkness, ghosts, and cemeteries.
- Foreshadowing: This line hints that the girl's journey has a tragic end. For the original girl, it foreshadows her impending death. For the ghost, it foreshadows that her ride with the driver will also end abruptly and unnaturally before reaching a true destination.
Part 3: Critical Thinking and Reflection
(Student answers will vary but should demonstrate critical thought. A good answer might include some of the following points.)
Sample Answer: Legends like Resurrection Mary persist because they tap into fundamental human emotions like fear of the unknown, sympathy for tragic figures, and a fascination with the afterlife. These stories often serve as cautionary tales (e.g., be careful on the roads). They also create a shared local identity and history for a community, turning a simple road or cemetery into a place of myth and intrigue. Telling these stories is a way to connect with the past and explore universal themes of loss, love, and what might come after death.