Which word describes how the speaker of this poem feels?

Question

Read this poetry.

I look inside me and I don't see it

I don't see the power

The confidence you say I have

You say I can do anything

That I'm sure of myself and my intentions

And I wonder

But I don't know

—"Escape,"

Theresa Hossfeld

Which word describes how the speaker of this poem feels?

A. uncertain

B. confident

C. hopeless

Answer 1

Hi Charlie!

In order to answer this question, we have to look at the language the author of this poem is using. What words, phrases, and ideas are repeated? What precise vocabulary does the speaker utilize to express their state of mind? We can automatically cross out B as a possibility, because, as is pointed out by the speaker, they "don't see the power" within them. That's not a very confident assertion. So, we now have to choose between A and C, and this is where word choice is crucial. I won't give the answer, but I'll leave you with a helpful observation: would you say the speaker of this poem, based on what they say about themselves and their "intentions," is hopeless, that is, devoid of hope about something? Or, does the speaker more so express a feeling of doubt/undecidability about their intentions; what feeling does the last two lines express the most? "And I wonder / But I don't know."

I hope this helps. Thanks so much for posting!

-Aaron W.