I’ve known rivers:
i’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
my soul has grown deep like the rivers. i ba
i’ve known rivers:
i’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.
my soul has grown deep like the rivers.
i bathed in the euphrates when dawns were young.
i built my hut near the congo2 and it lulled3 me to sleep. i looked upon the nile and raised the pyramids above it.
i heard the singing of the mississippi when abe lincoln went down to new orleans, and i’ve seen its muddy bosom turn all golden in the sunset. i’ve known rivers:
ancient, dusky rivers. my soul has grown deep like the rivers.

1.
which statement best describes the significance of the four rivers specifically mentioned in the poem?
a.
all four rivers played an important role in the history of the ancestors of african americans.
b.
all four rivers were places that the speaker lived while he was growing up.
c.
the four rivers represent places where horrible crimes have been committed against people of african descent.
d.
all four rivers played a critical role throughout world history.

2.
how does the speaker support his idea that his “soul has grown deep like the rivers”?
a.
by remembering all of the things he saw on the rivers when he was growing up
b.
by describing his interactions with the rivers to show that he has witnessed many important parts of history
c.
by explaining that deep rivers were necessary to build impressive structures like the pyramids
d.
by employing vivid imagery to describe the similarities of the rivers

3.
how does the repetition in the poem affect the tone of the poem?
a.
the repetition creates a slowly building rhythm like a river heading towards a waterfall.
b.
the repetition is intentionally used to make the poem feel out of rhythm.
c.
the repetition creates a rhythm that is commonly used in certain parts of mississippi.
d.
the repetition in the poem creates a steady rhythm that is similar to the steady flow of a river.

4.
how does the word “dusky” (line 9) contribute to the theme of the poem?

5.
how does the author use symbolism in this poem to develop its primary theme?