Sestina

Question 1

Sestina words

Answer 1

House
Grandmother
Child
Stove
Almanac
Tears

Question 2

Pathetic fallacy

Answer 2

“September rain falls on the house”
“in the falling light”

Question 3

Contrast

Answer 3

Reading jokes from the almanac, laughing and talking to hide her tears

Question 4

Rain

Answer 4

“September rain falls on the house”
“the rain that beats on the roof of the house”

Question 5

Personification

Answer 5

“the iron kettle sings on the stove”
“the way the rain must dance on the house”
“the almanac hovers half open above the child, hovers above the old grandmother”

Question 6

Superstition

Answer 6

“both were foretold by the almanac”
“It was to be, says the marvel stove. I know what I know, says the almanac”

Question 7

Parents

Answer 7

“tears dance like mad”
“the child puts in a man with buttons like tears”

Question 8

Sorrow will stay

Answer 8

“time to plant tears”

Question 9

Protection

Answer 9

“reading to jokes from the almanac laughing and talking to hide her tears”
“the teakettle’s small hard tears”
“the house feels chilly and puts more wood on the stove”
“The grandmother busies herself about the stove”