Question

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this poem.

How do the hands of the speaker's father serve as a symbol in "My Father's Song" by Simon Ortiz?
A. They represent the constant struggle that takes a toll on people as they grow old.
B. They represent the deep and lasting connection that the speaker feels to his father.
C. They represent the strength that the speaker must develop if he is to survive and grow. D. They represent the loving protection that the older generation should offer to the younger generation.

Answer 1

D) They represent the loving protection that the older generation should offer to the younger generation.

Explanation: Just took the test.

Answer 2

In the poem "My Father's Song" by Simon Ortiz, the hands of the speaker's father serve as a symbol in the following option :

D. They represent the loving protection that the older generation should offer to the younger generation.

The father is imparting invaluable lessons in survival to the speaker. This knowledge of sowing a corn field, respecting and nurturing all forms of life, and the concept of responsibility will come in handy in his future life as an adult.

The poem also highlights the importance of oral tradition in which knowledge necessary for survival is passed down the generations in a verbal manner.