Results
#1. At the beginning of the song, what activity defines Delia’s character?
The opening line states “Delia was a gambling girl,” meaning her identity centers on gambling.
#2. What repeated refrain follows nearly every verse?
#3. Who shot Delia?
“He shot poor Delia down with a cruel forty-four.”
#4. Why is the narrator “high upon the housetops”?
#5. According to Curtis, what caused the conflict leading to Delia’s shooting?
Curtis tells the judge the “noise” was “about them rounders… tryin’ to cut me out.”
#6. What sentence does Curtis receive from the judge?
The judge says, “Poor boy, you got ninety-nine.”
#7. What emotion does Curtis express toward Delia in the closing verses?
He says she “never did love me” and “wanted all them rounders.”
#8. Delia’s role in the story is portrayed as:
Her relationships with “rounders” cause jealousy and tragedy.
#9. The overall narrative structure of the song is closest to:
This is a classic murder ballad style.
#10. What does the repeated phrase “All the friends I ever had are gone” symbolize?
The refrain captures emotional emptiness and mourning.
#11. The final lines emphasize which theme most strongly?
Curtis mourns that Delia “never did love me,” highlighting regret, loss, and finality.
