The Rose That Grew from Concrete By Tupac Shakur

Amber Coursebook 8

Kavita Soni, Indiannica Learning

Tupac Shakur (1971 - 1996) was an internationally recognised artist renowned for his work that defies distinction between art and activism. With over 75 million records sold, he endures as one of hip hop's most iconic and beloved figures. Through his art, Tupac became the voice of the 'undeserved'. He manifested both his own struggles and the struggles of 'the people' through poetry, rap music, writing, and film.

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

Proving nature's law is wrong it

learned to walk without having feet.

Funny it seems, but by keeping it dreams,

it learned to breathe fresh air.

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

when no one else ever cared.

1.
Look at some well-known personalities, and write they were in the given blanks.
1. What do these personalities have in common?
2. What do you think made them show so much courage in the face of adversity?
3. Do you know of a similar story about someone? Share it with the class.
4. How important is it to have hope in life? Share a few of your hopes and dreams with your partner. Have you thought of any way of realising these hopes?
2.
Choose the most appropriate answers.
1. Who is the central character of this poem?
  1. the rose
  2. the laws of nature
  3. the uncared for people
2. What grew from the crack in the concrete?
  1. hope
  2. the poet's ambition
  3. a rose
3. Which of the following adequately explains the central idea of the poem?
  1. One should not be like the rose and grow on a concrete wall.
  2. You should chase your dreams even if no one believes in you or cares about you.
  3. Roses look beautiful when they grow on concrete cracks, and we should let roses grow like that.
4. Which of these statements about the poem is correct?
  1. The rose grew in a place where most things don't grow.
  2. The rose grew feel and learned to walk.
  3. The rose was able to breathe fresh air because it developed lungs.
3.
Proving nature's law is wrong it
learned to walk without having feet.
1. What does nature's law represent here?
2. Do you think the rose really defied nature's law?
3. The rose shows that waling does not always require feet just as
  1. plants don't need sunlight at all to grow up.
  2. Success does not need hard work
  3. Overcoming one's tears does not require extraordinary physical abilities.
4.
Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,
it learned to breathe fresh air
Long live the rose that grew from concrete
when no one else ever cared
1. What seems 'funny'?
2. How does one achieve their dreams?
3. Why didn't anybody ever care for the rose?
5.
How did the rose learn to breathe?
6.
What message is being conveyed through the poem?

6 more answer(s) available.

Amber Coursebook 8

Kavita Soni, Indiannica Learning

Chapters

The Rose That Grew from Concrete

Tupac Shakur

Available Answers