AP Success - AP English Literature: February (a cat poem)
Margaret Atwood, “February” from Morning in the Burned House. Copyright © 1995 by Margaret Atwood. Used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.Winter. Time to eat fatand watch hockey. In the pewter mornings, the cat,a black fur sausage with yellowHoudini eyes, jumps up on the bed and tries5to get onto my head. It’s hisway of telling whether or not I’m dead.If I’m not, he wants to be scratched; if I amHe’ll think of something. He settleson my chest, breathing his breath10of burped-up meat and musty sofas,purring like a washboard. Some other tomcat,not yet a capon, has been spraying our front door,declaring war. It’s all about sex and territory,which are what will finish us off15in the long run. Some cat owners around hereshould snip a few testicles. If we wisehominids were sensible, we’d do that too,or eat our young, like sharks.But it’s love that does us in. Over and over20again, He shoots, he scores! and faminecrouches in the bedsheets, ambushing the pulsingeiderdown, and the windchill factor hitsthirty below, and pollution poursout of our chimneys to keep us warm.25February, month of despair,with a skewered heart in the centre.I think dire thoughts, and lust for French frieswith a splash of vinegar.Cat, enough of your greedy whining30and your small pink bumhole.Off my face! You’re the life principle,more or less, so get goingon a little optimism around here.Get rid of death. Celebrate increase. Make it be spring.
Question 1
In lines 1-2, the phrase "Time to eat fat and watch hockey" most likely implies that the setting is:
A metaphor for indulgence and entertainment.
An individual's routine.
A community gathering.
A cultural ritual or seasonal tradition.
A celebration of a sports victory.
Question 2
The cat's actions in lines 4-6 ("jumps up on the bed and tries to get onto my head") serve primarily to:Demonstrate the cat's intelligence and cunning.
Symbolize the intrusion of nature into personal space.
Suggest a daily routine between the narrator and the cat.
Illustrate the cat's playful nature.
Establish a humorous tone.
Question 3
In lines 13-14 ("declaring war. It’s all about sex and territory"), the narrator uses the phrase "declaring war" to:Add a dramatic tone to the description of the tomcat's behavior.
Illustrate the intensity of animal instincts.
Compare the animal behavior to human conflicts.
Introduce a theme of conflict and rivalry.
Highlight the seriousness of the tomcat's actions.
Question 4
The reference to "snip a few testicles" in lines 15-16 suggests the narrator's:
Advocacy for population control among animals.
Casual attitude towards a serious issue.
Concern for animal welfare.
Humorous take on animal control.
Disapproval of irresponsible pet ownership.
Question 5
In lines 19-20, "But it’s love that does us in. Over and over again," the repetition of "over and over again" emphasizes:
The narrator's personal experiences with love.
The overwhelming power of love.
The frustration the narrator feels about love.
The cyclic nature of emotional experiences.
The inevitability of love's impact on individuals.
Question 6
The imagery of "famine crouches in the bedsheets" (line 21) is used to:
Convey the narrator's pessimistic outlook on life.
Symbolize hidden threats in comfortable environments.
Emphasize the narrator's feelings of vulnerability.
Illustrate the stark contrast between warmth and cold.
Create a sense of impending danger or doom.
Question 7
In lines 27-28, the narrator's "lust for French fries with a splash of vinegar" is an example of:
An abrupt shift in tone from philosophical to mundane.
A symbolic reference to the narrator's cultural background.
A literal craving that interrupts the narrator's musings.
An ironic contrast to the preceding heavy themes.
A metaphor for simpler pleasures amidst complex thoughts.
Question 8
The cat's portrayal as "the life principle" in lines 31-32 suggests that the animal:
Serves as a catalyst for the narrator's reflections.
Is central to the narrator's existence.
Embodies a philosophical concept for the narrator.
Is a source of annoyance for the narrator.
Represents vitality and persistence.
Question 9
The phrase "Make it be spring" (line 34) at the end of the passage primarily serves to:
Symbolize the narrator's optimism.
Illustrate the narrator's longing for warmer weather.
Introduce a new thematic element of hope.
Convey the narrator's powerlessness against nature.
Indicate a desire for change or renewal.
Question 10
Overall, the passage can be best described as:
An introspective account blending daily life with existential musings.
A narrative on the struggles of winter and the anticipation of spring.
A metaphorical exploration of human and animal behavior.
A humorous anecdote about living with a pet.
A contemplation on the cyclical nature of life and death.
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