In the poem "Mother to Son," how has the speaker responded to her life experiences?

• A. She has given up hope and feels defeated by her struggles.
• B. She has become bitter and blames others for her misfortunes.
• C. She has faced hardships with resilience and encourages perseverance.
• D. She has ignored her difficulties and pretends they do not exist.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Identify the speaker in the poem "Mother to Son" and understand the context of her message, which is a mother speaking to her son about her life experiences.
2. Step 2: Analyze the tone and language used by the speaker, focusing on metaphors such as the "crystal stair" and the description of a difficult, worn path to understand her attitude toward hardships.
3. Step 3: Recognize that the speaker does not express giving up or bitterness, but rather emphasizes continuing despite difficulties, which indicates resilience.
4. Step 4: Note how the speaker encourages perseverance by advising her son to keep climbing and not to turn back or sit down on the steps, symbolizing persistence in the face of struggle.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the speaker's response to her life experiences is one of strength and encouragement, reflecting resilience and a positive attitude toward overcoming challenges.