Question bank

MCQ Questions on "Sonnet 14: If Thou Must Love Me"

1. Who was Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s husband?
a) Percy Bysshe Shelley
b) Robert Browning
c) Lord Byron
d) John Keats

Answer: b) Robert Browning

2. How does Elizabeth Barrett Browning compare her life before meeting
Robert Browning?
a) To a fairy tale of Snow White
b) To the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty
c) To a journey of exploration
d) To a tragic novel

Answer: b) To the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty

3. What was the reason Elizabeth Barrett Browning pretended the

sonnets were translations?
a) She wanted to protect her privacy
b) Her husband felt they were "too passionate"
c) It was a tradition at the time
d) She wanted them to appear exotic

Answer: b) Her husband felt they were "too passionate"

4. What does the speaker in the poem urge her beloved to love her for?
a) Her beauty
b) Her compassion
c) For love's sake alone
d) Her tears

Answer: c) For love's sake alone

5. What poetic form does "If Thou Must Love Me" follow?
a) Shakespearean sonnet
b) Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet
c) Spenserian sonnet
d) Free verse

Answer: b) Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet

6. In the poem, what does the speaker warn against loving her for?
a) Her artistic skills
b) Her physical appearance
c) Conventional and changeable reasons
d) Her intelligence

Answer: c) Conventional and changeable reasons

7. What rhyme scheme does the octave of the sonnet follow?

a) abab cdcd
b) abbaabba
c) ababcdcd
d) cdcdcd

Answer: b) abbaabba

8. What technique does Browning frequently use in the poem?

a) Rhymed couplets
b) Enjambment
c) Refrains
d) Caesuras

Answer: b) Enjambment

9. What does the use of antique diction, such as "thou" and "thy,"
convey in the poem?
a) A modern tone
b) A sense of casualness
c) A sense of antique formality
d) A humorous effect

Answer: c) A sense of antique formality

10. What underlying theme does the poem address?

a) The fleeting nature of youth
b) The permanence of love for love's sake
c) The pursuit of material wealth
d) The challenges of social status

Answer: b) The permanence of love for love's sake

11. What is the primary theme of the poem "If Thou Must Love Me"?
A) Unconditional love
B) Love based on external factors
C) Fear of love
D) Love for love's sake, unconditioned by external factors
Answer: D) Love for love's sake, unconditioned by external factors

12. What poetic form is used in "If Thou Must Love Me"?
A) Shakespearean sonnet
B) Italian/Petrarchan sonnet
C) Free verse
D) Limerick
Answer: B) Italian/Petrarchan sonnet

13. What literary device is frequently used in "If Thou Must Love Me"?
A) Alliteration
B) Enjambment
C) Hyperbole
D) Metaphor
Answer: B) Enjambment

14. How does the poet describe conventional reasons for love in the poem?
A) They are eternal and steadfast
B) They are shallow and subject to change
C) They are based on mutual interests
D) They are unwavering and constant
Answer: B) They are shallow and subject to change

15. What does the speaker warn her beloved about in the poem?
A) To love her only when she is happy
B) To love her for reasons that can change
C) To love her despite their differences
D) To love her only when she cries
Answer: B) To love her for reasons that can change
16. How does the poet express the idea of change in the poem?
A) By embracing it as inevitable
B) By rejecting any possibility of change
C) By stating that change is irrelevant
D) By focusing on the unchanging nature of love
Answer: A) By embracing it as inevitable

17. What does the final couplet of the poem urge the beloved to do?
A) To love her for love's sake only
B) To love her for her beauty
C) To love her because of her tears
D) To love her out of pity
Answer: A) To love her for love's sake only

18. What term does Browning frequently use to address her beloved in the
poem?
A) You
B) Thou, thee, thy, and thine
C) Sir
D) Dear
Answer: B) Thou, thee, thy, and thine

19. What is a characteristic of the diction used by Browning in the poem?

A) Simple and modern
B) Highly formal and antique
C) Casual and conversational
D) Colloquial and informal
Answer: B) Highly formal and antique

20. What does the speaker fear about her beloved’s love in the poem?
A) That he will forget her
B) That he will stop loving her because of changing circumstances
C) That he will love her out of pity
D) That he will only love her superficially
Answer: B) That he will stop loving her because of changing circumstances
Sonnets from the Portuguese
1. What is the significance of Sonnets from the Portuguese in English literature?
A) They were published immediately after being written.
B) They were published anonymously.
C) They were published in a unique way, with deliberate delays.
D) They were widely ignored.
Answer: C) They were published in a unique way, with deliberate delays.

2. What is the most famous line from Sonnets from the Portuguese?
A) "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
B) "I think of thee!"
C) "The rain falls softly on the earth."
D) "My love is like a red, red rose."
Answer: A) "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

3. What does the poem Sonnet XXIX primarily depict?

A) The joy of being in love.
B) The workings of Barrett Browning's mind as she anticipates her husband's arrival.
C) A conflict between love and duty.
D) The struggles of separation from a lover.
Answer: B) The workings of Barrett Browning's mind as she anticipates her
husband's arrival.

4. Which metaphor is used to describe Barrett Browning’s thoughts in Sonnet

XXIX?
A) Waves of the ocean.
B) Wild vines.
C) Clouds in the sky.
D) Rivers of time.
Answer: B) Wild vines.

5. What does the "tree" symbolize in the metaphor of "wild vines" in the poem?
A) Nature itself.
B) Barrett Browning’s mind.
C) Robert Browning, the beloved.
D) The strength of the speaker's love.
Answer: C) Robert Browning, the beloved.

6. In the poem, what happens to the "wild vines" as time passes?

A) They grow longer and more profuse.
B) They wither and fade.
C) They bloom only in the spring.
D) They are trimmed and controlled.
Answer: A) They grow longer and more profuse.
7. What does the phrase "soon there's naught to see" refer to?
A) The overwhelming presence of the vines covering the tree.
B) The beauty of the beloved obscured by the thoughts.
C) The speaker’s growing indifference.
D) The emptiness of life without love.
Answer: B) The overwhelming presence of the vines covering the tree.

8. What is the significance of the "palm tree" metaphor in the poem?

A) It is a symbol of freedom.
B) It is a playful term of affection for Robert Browning.
C) It represents the speaker’s resilience.
D) It symbolizes nature's beauty.
Answer: B) It is a playful term of affection for Robert Browning.

9. How does Barrett Browning feel about her thoughts about Browning?
A) She enjoys them and relishes the distance.
B) She believes they are inadequate substitutes for his presence.
C) She feels frustrated by them.
D) She feels disconnected from them.
Answer: B) She believes they are inadequate substitutes for his presence.

10. What does Barrett Browning request of Browning in the poem?

A) To write her a letter.
B) To "renew thy presence" and face her.
C) To think of her.
D) To send her flowers.
Answer: B) To "renew thy presence" and face her.

11. What does the act of "Rustling thy boughs" symbolize in the poem?
A) Browning clearing away the speaker’s overwhelming thoughts.
B) The blossoming of new feelings.
C) The arrival of spring.
D) A playful gesture.
Answer: A) Browning clearing away the speaker’s overwhelming thoughts.

12. What does the phrase "set thy trunk all bare" suggest?
A) A call for Browning to show his vulnerability.
B) A desire for physical intimacy.
C) A call for Browning to free himself from her thoughts.
D) A need for Browning to be exposed emotionally.
Answer: C) A call for Browning to free himself from her thoughts.

13. How does the speaker view her own thoughts in relation to Robert
Browning?
A) As something that strengthens her love.
B) As something that clutters her mind and prevents her from connecting with him.
C) As something to be cherished.
D) As a source of comfort.
Answer: B) As something that clutters her mind and prevents her from connecting
with him.
14. How does the speaker feel about language and poems in the context of love?
A) She believes that poems are unnecessary once the lover is physically present.
B) She feels poems are an essential expression of her love.
C) She believes love cannot be expressed through words.
D) She uses poems to escape from love.
Answer: A) She believes that poems are unnecessary once the lover is physically
present.

15. What does the image of the "burst, shattered" vines symbolize?
A) The destruction of the speaker’s thoughts.
B) A new beginning in their relationship.
C) The end of the speaker's longing.
D) The fragility of love.
Answer: A) The destruction of the speaker’s thoughts.

16. What is implied by the desire to be "too near" to Robert Browning?

A) The speaker wants to no longer need to think about him.
B) The speaker wants to express her love more openly.
C) The speaker fears emotional distance.
D) The speaker wishes to escape from her feelings.
Answer: A) The speaker wants to no longer need to think about him.

17. What is the overall tone of Sonnet XXIX?

A) Desperate and sorrowful.
B) Loving and longing.
C) Hopeful and joyful.
D) Angry and resentful.
Answer: B) Loving and longing.

18. In what way does the metaphor of the tree and vines relate to Barrett
Browning’s feelings for Browning?
A) It depicts the way her thoughts of him become increasingly tangled and
overwhelming.
B) It symbolizes the growth of their relationship.
C) It represents the freedom of love.
D) It shows the strength of their bond.
Answer: A) It depicts the way her thoughts of him become increasingly tangled and
overwhelming.

19. Why does the speaker want to move beyond her thoughts in the poem?
A) To experience the physical presence of her beloved.
B) To express her love more clearly.
C) To escape her feelings of longing.
D) To give up on her love.
Answer: A) To experience the physical presence of her beloved.

20. What is the final wish of the speaker in Sonnet XXIX?

A) To no longer need language to express her love.
B) To have more time to think about her love.
C) To be separated from her lover.
D) To write more poems.
Answer: A) To no longer need language to express her love.

MCQs Based on "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" by Alfred, Lord

Tennyson

1. How many lines does the poem "Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal" have?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 14
D) 16
Answer: C) 14

2. What is the structure of the poem?

A) Four quatrains
B) Two quatrains, a couplet, and a quatrain
C) A sonnet
D) Three couplets followed by a quatrain
Answer: B) Two quatrains, a couplet, and a quatrain

3. Why does the poem lack a title?

A) It is unfinished
B) It is known by its first line
C) Tennyson did not believe in titles
D) It is part of a larger epic
Answer: D) It is part of a larger epic

4. Who reads the poem within The Princess?

A) The prince
B) Princess Ida
C) Zeus
D) A narrator
Answer: B) Princess Ida

5. What does the poem symbolize through its references to nature?

A) Rebellion against Victorian norms
B) Unity between lovers
C) Conflict and struggle in relationships
D) Peaceful solitude
Answer: B) Unity between lovers
6. What classical myth is referenced in the poem?
A) Orpheus and Eurydice
B) Persephone and Hades
C) Zeus and Danaë
D) Achilles and Patroclus
Answer: C) Zeus and Danaë

7. What form does the poem take?

A) Ode
B) Sonnet
C) Ghazal
D) Epic
Answer: C) Ghazal

8. Which word or phrase is repeated in each stanza?

A) "Love"
B) "Now"
C) "Me"
D) "Star"
Answer: C) "Me"

9. How does Tennyson convey the mood of the poem?

A) Through violent imagery
B) By using words that evoke peace and drowsiness
C) Through direct descriptions of love
D) By referencing societal norms
Answer: B) By using words that evoke peace and drowsiness

10. What does the sleeping fish symbolize?

A) Nature’s tranquility
B) Resistance to change
C) An ominous presence
D) Passionate longing
Answer: A) Nature’s tranquility

11. What is the main challenge Tennyson faced when writing about love?
A) Adhering to Victorian restrictions on discussing love
B) Writing in a Persian poetic form
C) Avoiding controversial myths
D) Balancing male and female perspectives
Answer: A) Adhering to Victorian restrictions on discussing love

12. In what way does the poem emphasize inevitability?

A) Through the repetition of “Now”
B) By using circular imagery
C) By referencing destiny
D) Through its rhyme scheme
Answer: A) Through the repetition of “Now”

13. How does the poem reinterpret the myth of Danaë?

A) It portrays Danaë as a willing participant
B) It removes any notion of resistance
C) It highlights Zeus's dominance
D) It avoids any reference to her
Answer: B) It removes any notion of resistance

14. What happens in the final stanza of the poem?

A) The lovers separate
B) The lily slips into the lake
C) The stars disappear
D) The speaker departs
Answer: B) The lily slips into the lake

15. What does the slipping lily symbolize?

A) A return to solitude
B) The merging of the woman into the lover
C) A break in tradition
D) The end of love
Answer: B) The merging of the woman into the lover

16. What is Tennyson’s primary theme in the poem?

A) Rebellion against Victorian norms
B) The spiritual unity of love
C) Physical passion as an end in itself
D) The isolation of individuals
Answer: B) The spiritual unity of love
17. What does the poem suggest about the Victorian attitude toward love?
A) It was hypocritical and avoided physical love
B) It was openly passionate
C) It valued love as a spiritual experience
D) It focused entirely on societal norms
Answer: C) It valued love as a spiritual experience

18. What poetic devices does Tennyson primarily use in the poem?
A) Alliteration and metaphor
B) Symbolism and repetition
C) Hyperbole and irony
D) Rhyme and allegory
Answer: B) Symbolism and repetition

19. How does the woman’s role change in the final stanza?
A) She resists the speaker’s advances
B) She takes the initiative in their unity
C) She becomes indifferent to the speaker
D) She chooses solitude over love
Answer: B) She takes the initiative in their unity

20. How does Tennyson’s philosophy reflect in the poem?

A) Love is a fleeting emotion
B) Love symbolizes unity and harmony in nature
C) Love is purely physical
D) Love leads to societal division
Answer: B) Love symbolizes unity and harmony in nature

20 Multiple-Choice Questions on "Crossing the Bar"

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

1. What is the structure of the poem "Crossing the Bar"?

A. Four four-line stanzas

B. Five six-line stanzas
C. Three three-line stanzas
D. One continuous block

Answer: A. Four four-line stanzas

2. What is the predominant meter used in "Crossing the
Bar"?

A. Trochaic tetrameter
B. Iambic pentameter
C. Anapestic trimeter
D. Dactylic hexameter

Answer: B. Iambic pentameter

3. What rhyme scheme does the poem follow?

A. ABBA
B. AABB
C. ABAB
D. ABCB

Answer: C. ABAB

4. What natural phenomenon sets the temporal tone of the

poem?

A. Sunrise
B. Sunset and evening star
C. Midnight moon
D. Dawn light

Answer: B. Sunset and evening star

5. What is the "bar" in the poem a metaphor for?

A. A literal sandbar
B. The boundary between life and death
C. A physical barrier to sailing
D. A judgment point

Answer: B. The boundary between life and death

6. What does the speaker hope for during the crossing?

A. A stormy departure
B. A gentle tide without turbulence
C. A joyful celebration
D. A silent and lonely voyage

Answer: B. A gentle tide without turbulence

7. What literary device is most prominent in the poem?

A. Simile
B. Allegory
C. Hyperbole
D. Irony

Answer: B. Allegory

8. Who or what is the “Pilot” in the poem?

A. A ship captain
B. God or a divine guide
C. A sailor
D. A celestial body

Answer: B. God or a divine guide

9. Why did Tennyson request the poem to be the last in all

his editions?

A. It was his favorite poem

B. It reflects his contemplation of death
C. It had a unique rhyme scheme
D. It was his final work

Answer: B. It reflects his contemplation of death

10. Which word in the poem stands out due to its archaic
meaning?

A. Bourne
B. Bar
C. Call
D. Twilight
Answer: A. Bourne

11. What does the word "bourne" symbolize in the poem?

A. A type of tide
B. A geographical and spiritual boundary
C. A navigational point
D. A sailor's journey

Answer: B. A geographical and spiritual boundary

12. What tone does the poem primarily convey?

A. Joyful and exuberant

B. Somber but peaceful
C. Anxious and fearful
D. Chaotic and confusing

Answer: B. Somber but peaceful

13. What does the "evening star" symbolize in the poem?

A. A celestial guide
B. A distant hope
C. A fading light
D. A divine being

Answer: A. A celestial guide

14. What is the central theme of "Crossing the Bar"?

A. Love and betrayal

B. Death as a journey to the afterlife
C. The importance of nature
D. The struggles of a sailor

Answer: B. Death as a journey to the afterlife

15. How does the speaker view the journey across the bar?
A. As a fearful experience
B. As a return home
C. As an unpredictable voyage
D. As a temporary transition

Answer: B. As a return home

16. What literary technique is used in the lines about the

"moaning of the bar"?

A. Onomatopoeia
B. Alliteration
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole

Answer: A. Onomatopoeia

17. What is the significance of the "evening bell"?

A. It marks the start of the journey

B. It signals the end of life
C. It celebrates the arrival at port
D. It awakens the crew

Answer: B. It signals the end of life

18. What distinguishes the final stanza from the others

metrically?

A. All lines are in iambic pentameter

B. The rhythm slows down
C. It follows a different rhyme scheme
D. It uses only monosyllabic words

Answer: B. The rhythm slows down

19. How does Tennyson portray the afterlife in "Crossing the

Bar"?

A. As a judgmental realm
B. As a mysterious return home
C. As a paradise for believers
D. As a continuation of earthly life

Answer: B. As a mysterious return home

20. What universal concept does the poem emphasize?

A. The unpredictability of life

B. The inevitability of death
C. The importance of faith
D. The fear of the unknown

Answer: B. The inevitability of death

Here are 30 multiple-choice questions

(MCQs) on the topic of Robert Browning's
poems Meeting at Night and Parting at
Morning ranging from easy to hard:

Here are the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with their answers:

Easy:

1.

What is the rhyme scheme of each stanza in "Meeting at Night"?

a) ababab
b) abcabc
c) abccba
d) aabbcc
Answer: c) abccba

2.
3.

How many lines does the poem "Meeting at Night" have?

a) 8
b) 12
c) 14
d) 16
Answer: b) 12

4.
5.

What is the tone of the poem "Meeting at Night"?

a) Joyful and celebratory
b) Fearful and tense
c) Romantic and passionate
d) Somber and reflective
Answer: c) Romantic and passionate

6.
7.

In "Meeting at Night," which color is mentioned to describe the sea in the

opening lines?
a) Blue
b) Green
c) Grey
d) Red
Answer: c) Grey

8.
9.

Which literary device is used when the waves "leap" to form "fiery
ringlets" in "Meeting at Night"?
a) Simile
b) Hyperbole
c) Personification
d) Metaphor
Answer: c) Personification

10.
11.

Who is the speaker in "Meeting at Night"?

a) A fisherman
b) A lover
c) A traveler
d) A farmer
Answer: b) A lover

12.
13.
 In "Meeting at Night," the speaker is trying to reach which of the
following?
a) A lighthouse
b) A lover
c) A family member
d) A friend
Answer: b) A lover

14.
15.

What object does the speaker tap in the final lines of "Meeting at Night"?
a) A door
b) A windowpane
c) A bell
d) A lamp
Answer: b) A windowpane

16.
17.

What emotion dominates the ending of "Meeting at Night"?

a) Anxiety
b) Fear
c) Joy and expectation
d) Confusion
Answer: c) Joy and expectation

18.
19.

What is the primary focus of both "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at

Morning"?
a) The relationship between the speaker and nature
b) The romantic relationship between two people
c) The connection between family members
d) The change of seasons
Answer: b) The romantic relationship between two people

20.

Intermediate:

1.

What type of meter is used in "Meeting at Night"?

a) Iambic pentameter
b) Iambic tetrameter
c) Trochaic tetrameter
d) Dactylic hexameter
Answer: b) Iambic tetrameter

2.
3.

What is the significance of the rhyme scheme in "Meeting at Night"?

a) It signifies the cyclical nature of life
b) It suggests that the speaker’s journey is not permanent
c) It emphasizes the beauty of nature
d) It highlights the speaker’s connection to the earth
Answer: b) It suggests that the speaker’s journey is not permanent

4.
5.

What is the primary setting of "Meeting at Night"?

a) A garden
b) A beach and farmhouse
c) A mountain path
d) A city street
Answer: b) A beach and farmhouse

6.
7.

In "Meeting at Night," which element is described as "slushy"?

a) The sand
b) The sky
c) The water
d) The moon
Answer: a) The sand

8.
9.

How does Browning use personification in "Meeting at Night"?

a) The sand is described as welcoming
b) The waves are said to leap
c) The wind is said to whisper
d) The moon is said to shine brightly
Answer: b) The waves are said to leap

10.
11.

Which emotion does the speaker of "Meeting at Night" feel as he nears

his lover?
a) Regret
b) Impatience
c) Anticipation
d) Confusion
Answer: c) Anticipation

12.
13.

What is the purpose of the match being lit in the final part of "Meeting at
Night"?
a) To symbolize the speaker’s arrival
b) To illuminate the night
c) To mark the end of the poem
d) To suggest the beginning of a new journey
Answer: a) To symbolize the speaker’s arrival

14.
15.

What is the final image in "Meeting at Night"?

a) The speaker standing by the sea
b) The lighting of a match
c) The heartbeats of the lovers
d) The rising sun
Answer: c) The heartbeats of the lovers

16.
17.

How does "Parting at Morning" differ from "Meeting at Night"?

a) It focuses on the speaker's journey to the lover
b) It features a more relaxed tone
c) It explores the speaker’s need to return to his daily life
d) It highlights the longing for nature
Answer: c) It explores the speaker’s need to return to his daily life

18.
19.

What is the central theme of both "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at

Morning"?
a) Love’s fleeting nature
b) The importance of work
c) The challenges of separation
d) The value of family bonds
Answer: c) The challenges of separation

20.
 Here are the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with their answers:

Easy:

1.

What is the rhyme scheme of each stanza in "Meeting at Night"?

a) ababab
b) abcabc
c) abccba
d) aabbcc
Answer: c) abccba

How many lines does the poem "Meeting at Night" have?

a) 8
b) 12
c) 14
d) 16
Answer: b) 12

What is the tone of the poem "Meeting at Night"?

a) Joyful and celebratory
b) Fearful and tense
c) Romantic and passionate
d) Somber and reflective
Answer: c) Romantic and passionate

In "Meeting at Night," which color is mentioned to describe the sea in the

opening lines?
a) Blue
b) Green
c) Grey
d) Red
Answer: c) Grey

4
Which literary device is used when the waves "leap" to form "fiery
ringlets" in "Meeting at Night"?
a) Simile
b) Hyperbole
c) Personification
d) Metaphor
Answer: c) Personification

Who is the speaker in "Meeting at Night"?

a) A fisherman
b) A lover
c) A traveler
d) A farmer
Answer: b) A lover

In "Meeting at Night," the speaker is trying to reach which of the

following?
a) A lighthouse
b) A lover
c) A family member
d) A friend
Answer: b) A lover

What object does the speaker tap in the final lines of "Meeting at Night"?
a) A door
b) A windowpane
c) A bell
d) A lamp
Answer: b) A windowpane

What emotion dominates the ending of "Meeting at Night"?

a) Anxiety
b) Fear
 c) Joy and expectation
d) Confusion
Answer: c) Joy and expectation

What is the primary focus of both "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at

Morning"?
a) The relationship between the speaker and nature
b) The romantic relationship between two people
c) The connection between family members
d) The change of seasons
Answer: b) The romantic relationship between two people

10

Intermediate:
11

What type of meter is used in "Meeting at Night"?

a) Iambic pentameter
b) Iambic tetrameter
c) Trochaic tetrameter
d) Dactylic hexameter
Answer: b) Iambic tetrameter

12

What is the significance of the rhyme scheme in "Meeting at Night"?

a) It signifies the cyclical nature of life
b) It suggests that the speaker’s journey is not permanent
c) It emphasizes the beauty of nature
d) It highlights the speaker’s connection to the earth
Answer: b) It suggests that the speaker’s journey is not permanent

13

What is the primary setting of "Meeting at Night"?

a) A garden
b) A beach and farmhouse
c) A mountain path
d) A city street
Answer: b) A beach and farmhouse

14

In "Meeting at Night," which element is described as "slushy"?

a) The sand
b) The sky
c) The water
d) The moon
Answer: a) The sand

15

How does Browning use personification in "Meeting at Night"?

a) The sand is described as welcoming
b) The waves are said to leap
c) The wind is said to whisper
d) The moon is said to shine brightly
Answer: b) The waves are said to leap

16

Which emotion does the speaker of "Meeting at Night" feel as he nears

his lover?
a) Regret
b) Impatience
c) Anticipation
d) Confusion
Answer: c) Anticipation

17

What is the purpose of the match being lit in the final part of "Meeting at
Night"?
a) To symbolize the speaker’s arrival
b) To illuminate the night
c) To mark the end of the poem
d) To suggest the beginning of a new journey
Answer: a) To symbolize the speaker’s arrival

18

What is the final image in "Meeting at Night"?

a) The speaker standing by the sea
 b) The lighting of a match
c) The heartbeats of the lovers
d) The rising sun
Answer: c) The heartbeats of the lovers

19

How does "Parting at Morning" differ from "Meeting at Night"?

a) It focuses on the speaker's journey to the lover
b) It features a more relaxed tone
c) It explores the speaker’s need to return to his daily life
d) It highlights the longing for nature
Answer: c) It explores the speaker’s need to return to his daily life

20

What is the central theme of both "Meeting at Night" and "Parting at

Morning"?
a) Love’s fleeting nature
b) The importance of work
c) The challenges of separation
d) The value of family bonds
Answer: c) The challenges of separation

Hard:

21

How does the meter of "Meeting at Night" contribute to its meaning?

a) It creates a slow, reflective mood
b) It mirrors the speaker’s urgency and excitement
c) It makes the poem more formal
d) It emphasizes the passage of time
Answer: b) It mirrors the speaker’s urgency and excitement

22

Why does Browning use a combination of iambic and anapestic meter in

"Meeting at Night"?
a) To slow down the pace of the poem
b) To show the speaker’s deep thoughtfulness
c) To reflect the speaker’s excitement and haste
 d) To create a monotonous rhythm
Answer: c) To reflect the speaker’s excitement and haste

23

In what way does the poem "Meeting at Night" portray a contradiction of

romantic love?
a) The speaker is unsure of his feelings
b) The journey to the lover is full of obstacles
c) The speaker is reluctant to meet the lover
d) The romantic encounter is presented in a matter-of-fact manner
Answer: d) The romantic encounter is presented in a matter-of-fact
manner

24

Which element in the poem is used to symbolize the separation between

the speaker and his lover?
a) The beach
b) The farmhouse
c) The grey sea
d) The slushy sand
Answer: c) The grey sea

25

How does the speaker’s control over nature in "Meeting at Night"

contribute to the poem’s theme of love?
a) It suggests that love is uncontrollable
b) It highlights the difficulty of the journey
c) It reflects the speaker’s dominance and control
d) It emphasizes nature’s power over the speaker
Answer: c) It reflects the speaker’s dominance and control

26

What role does the flash of light from the match play in the poem?
a) It serves as a beacon of hope
b) It suggests a fleeting moment of warmth
c) It signals the speaker’s arrival
d) It symbolizes the breaking of dawn
Answer: c) It signals the speaker’s arrival
27

What does the use of hyperbole at the end of "Meeting at Night" reveal
about the speaker’s feelings?
a) He is anxious about the meeting
b) He is overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment
c) He is fearful of the separation
d) He is confused by his emotions
Answer: b) He is overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment

28

How does "Parting at Morning" provide a contrast to the intensity of

"Meeting at Night"?
a) It emphasizes the fleeting nature of love
b) It presents a more tranquil scene
c) It reveals the conflict between love and duty
d) It focuses on the speaker’s personal struggles
Answer: b) It presents a more tranquil scene

29

What is suggested by the fact that the speaker never reveals the identity
of the lover in "Meeting at Night"?
a) The speaker is ashamed of the relationship
b) The speaker is focused on the physical setting, not the individual
c) The lover’s identity is irrelevant to the poem’s message
d) The speaker does not care about the lover
Answer: b) The speaker is focused on the physical setting, not the
individual

30

What does the poem's structure, with its symmetry and reversal of
rhyme, symbolize?
a) The inevitability of separation
b) The cyclical nature of love
c) The journey from love to sorrow
d) The constant tension between love and duty
Answer: b) The cyclical nature of love
Multiple Choice Questions for "The Old Stoic"
Analysis

Theme and Philosophy

1.

What philosophy is central to the themes of "The Old Stoic"?

2.
1. A) Romanticism
2. B) Stoicism
3. C) Epicureanism
4. D) Existentialism
Answer: B
3.

According to the poem, wealth is considered:

4.

1. A) A means to happiness
2. B) A source of power
3. C) Worthless
4. D) A divine gift
Answer: C

5.

What does the speaker in the poem request from the gods?

6.

1. A) Wealth and fame

2. B) Immortality
3. C) Freedom of the inner self
4. D) Protection from death
Answer: C

7.

How does the Stoic sage view love according to the poem?

8.

1. A) As essential for happiness

2. B) As laughable or unimportant
3. C) As a divine virtue
 4. D) As a bond stronger than death
Answer: B

9.

In Stoicism, what is considered the primary source of suffering?

10.

1. A) Physical pain
2. B) Unfulfilled desires
3. C) Death of loved ones
4. D) Lack of wealth
Answer: B

Structure and Literary Devices

1.

What is the rhyme scheme of each stanza in "The Old Stoic"?

2.

1. A) AABB
2. B) ABAB
3. C) ABBA
4. D) AAAA
Answer: B

3.

The poem is primarily written in which metrical pattern?

4.

1. A) Iambic pentameter
2. B) Trochaic trimeter
3. C) Iambic tetrameter and trimeter
4. D) Free verse
Answer: C

5.

Which poetic device is largely absent from "The Old Stoic"?

6.

1. A) Alliteration
2. B) Rhyme
 3. C) Iambic meter
4. D) Metaphor
Answer: A

7.

How many stanzas are in the poem?

8.

1. A) 2
2. B) 3
3. C) 4
4. D) 5
Answer: B

9.

What is the tone of the speaker throughout the poem?

10.

 A) Passionate and hopeful

 B) Detached and contemplative
 C) Joyful and enthusiastic
 D) Angry and resentful
Answer: B

Historical and Philosophical Context

1. Which Stoic philosopher is most likely a source for the Brontës’ understanding of Stoicism?

 A) Plato
 B) Marcus Aurelius
 C) Epicurus
 D) Pythagoras
Answer: B

1. What does Stoicism teach about fame and power?

 A) They are necessary for happiness

 B) They are illusions and sources of misery
 C) They are divine gifts
 D) They are goals of the virtuous
Answer: B

1. How does the Stoic sage view external events like death or misfortune?

 A) As personal tragedies
 B) As divine punishment
 C) As inevitable and indifferent
  D) As failures to overcome
Answer: C

1. The speaker’s prayer to the gods highlights:

 A) The Stoic belief in divine intervention in personal matters

 B) The Stoic value of self-reliance and inner freedom
 C) The Christian idea of salvation
 D) A desire for wealth and power
Answer: B

Interpretation and Themes

1. What does the speaker believe about life and death?

 A) Death should be feared

 B) Life is a gift from the gods
 C) Both life and death should be met with indifference
 D) Life must be prolonged at all costs
Answer: C

1. How does the Stoic sage value human relationships?

 A) By their emotional significance

 B) By their similarity to Stoic virtue
 C) By family ties alone
 D) By how much joy they bring
Answer: B

1. Why does the speaker dismiss the pursuit of riches?

 A) It requires unethical actions

 B) It leads to control by external forces
 C) It brings lasting misery
 D) It is unattainable
Answer: B

1. What ultimate goal does the speaker strive for?

 A) Power and recognition

 B) Love and happiness
 C) Freedom and self-mastery
 D) Eternal life
Answer: C

Comparison and Broader Implications

1. How does the speaker’s worldview differ from traditional Christian beliefs?

 A) It embraces the idea of an afterlife

 B) It rejects external salvation in favor of self-reliance
 C) It promotes prayer for divine intervention
  D) It emphasizes material wealth as divine blessings
Answer: B

1. The poem’s Stoic salvation aligns most closely with which of the following ideas?

 A) Achieving spiritual bliss in the afterlife

 B) Living in harmony with nature and inner freedom
 C) Accumulating wealth and fame for a better life
 D) Seeking forgiveness for earthly sins
Answer: B

Here are 20 multiple-choice questions based on the analysis of Charlotte

Brontë's poem Love and Friendship with their correct answers:

1.

What is the primary theme of Charlotte Brontë's poem "Love and

Friendship"?

2.
1. a) The fleeting nature of romantic love
2. b) The joys of friendship
3. c) The impact of nature on emotions
4. d) The comparison between different seasons
Answer: a) The fleeting nature of romantic love
3.

How many stanzas are in the poem "Love and Friendship"?

4.

1. a) Three
2. b) Four
3. c) Five
4. d) Six
Answer: a) Three

5.

What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza of the poem?

6.
 1. a) abcb
2. b) aabb
3. c) abba
4. d) defe
Answer: a) abcb

7.

What does the rosebush symbolize in the poem?

8.

1. a) Friendship
2. b) Family
3. c) Romance
4. d) Nature
Answer: c) Romance

9.

In the poem, what does the evergreen symbolize?

10.

1. a) Romantic love
2. b) Wealth
3. c) Friendship
4. d) Success
Answer: c) Friendship

11.

What literary device is used in the first line of the poem to compare
romantic love to the rosebush?

12.

1. a) Metaphor
2. b) Simile
3. c) Personification
4. d) Alliteration
Answer: b) Simile

13.

What does the poet suggest about the rosebush in winter?

14.
 1. a) It thrives and blooms
2. b) It loses its beauty and significance
3. c) It becomes more fragrant
4. d) It remains untouched
Answer: b) It loses its beauty and significance

15.

How does Brontë describe the evergreen in the third stanza?

16.

1. a) Shadowy
2. b) Dim
3. c) Bright
4. d) Withered
Answer: c) Bright

17.

Which season is associated with the blooming of the rosebush in the

poem?

18.

1. a) Summer
2. b) Spring
3. c) Winter
4. d) Autumn
Answer: b) Spring

19.

What literary device is used in the phrase "the last month of the year" in
line 11?

20.

1. a) Simile
2. b) Personification
3. c) Hyperbole
4. d) Metaphor
Answer: b) Personification

21.

What does the poet mean by the statement "winter will not harm the
evergreen of friendship"?
 22.

1. a) Friendship will fade with time

2. b) Winter cannot diminish the strength of friendship
3. c) Friendship is as fragile as the rosebush
4. d) Friendship is a seasonal bond
Answer: b) Winter cannot diminish the strength of friendship

23.

What rhetorical question does Brontë ask in the second stanza?

24.

1. a) Who will find the rosebush beautiful in the wintertime?

2. b) Which plant is more dependable in times of trouble?
3. c) Who will appreciate romance during harsh times?
4. d) Does the rosebush last forever?
Answer: a) Who will find the rosebush beautiful in the wintertime?

25.

What is the metaphorical meaning of the evergreen described in the

poem?

26.

1. a) It represents eternal love.

2. b) It represents reliable companionship.
3. c) It represents material wealth.
4. d) It represents fleeting beauty.
Answer: b) It represents reliable companionship.

27.

What role does the season of winter play in the poem?

28.

1. a) It represents the flourishing of love.

2. b) It symbolizes the challenges in relationships.
3. c) It highlights the strength of romantic love.
4. d) It symbolizes the end of friendship.
Answer: b) It symbolizes the challenges in relationships.

29.

In the poem, which plant is described as having a "verdant crown" in the

final line?
 30.

1. a) Rosebush
2. b) Evergreen
3. c) Lavender
4. d) Sunflower
Answer: b) Evergreen

31.

How does Brontë describe the rosebush in the second stanza?

32.

1. a) As a symbol of faithfulness
2. b) As blooming and fragrant in summer
3. c) As resilient in winter
4. d) As a dull and faded symbol of love
Answer: b) As blooming and fragrant in summer

33.

What does Brontë imply about the rosebush in the winter months?

34.

1. a) It will be at its most beautiful.

2. b) It will fade and lose its charm.
3. c) It will produce new flowers.
4. d) It will grow stronger.
Answer: b) It will fade and lose its charm.

35.

In the final stanza, what does Brontë advise the reader to do?

36.

1. a) Focus on the fleeting beauty of romance.

2. b) Choose companionship over romance.
3. c) Embrace the beauty of the rosebush.
4. d) Avoid relationships altogether.
Answer: b) Choose companionship over romance.

37.

How does Brontë personify winter in the poem?

38.
 1. a) As a cruel and damaging force
2. b) As a nurturing and protective force
3. c) As a beautiful season of growth
4. d) As an indifferent and neutral force
Answer: a) As a cruel and damaging force

39.

What does the poet ultimately argue about relationships built on

friendship versus those based on romance?

40.

1. a) Friendship is weaker and more fragile.

2. b) Romantic love is more enduring than friendship.
3. c) Friendship endures and is more dependable than romantic love.
4. d) Both friendship and romance are equally lasting.
Answer: c) Friendship endures and is more dependable than romantic love.

20 Multiple-Choice Questions on "Up-Hill" by Christina Georgina Rossetti:

1.

What is the main theme of "Up-Hill"?

2.
1. A. Love and romance
2. B. Life as a journey
3. C. Nature and reflection
4. D. Wars and battles
Answer: B
3.

What is the structural form of the poem?

4.

1. A. Sonnet
2. B. Monologue
3. C. Dialogue
4. D. Free verse
Answer: C

5.

What is the metrical pattern of the poem?

 6.

1. A. Alternating tetrameter and trimeter

2. B. Consistent rhythm throughout
3. C. Irregular rhythm
4. D. All lines in tetrameter
Answer: A

7.

How are the questions and answers presented in the poem?

8.

1. A. In a contrasting manner
2. B. Reflecting fear and reassurance
3. C. In a sarcastic tone
4. D. In an ambiguous way
Answer: B

9.

What is the purpose of the dialogue in the poem?

10.

1. A. To provoke doubt
2. B. To reassure the traveler
3. C. To highlight a conflict
4. D. To describe nature
Answer: B

11.

What metaphor underlies the entire poem?

12.

1. A. Life as a journey
2. B. Darkness as fear
3. C. Night as death
4. D. Day as love
Answer: A

13.

What does the inn symbolize in the poem?

14.
 1. A. A physical resting place
2. B. The traveler’s destination
3. C. Heaven and eternal rest
4. D. A temporary shelter
Answer: C

15.

How does the poem describe the road?

16.

1. A. Flat and easy to traverse

2. B. Up-hill all the way
3. C. Winding and confusing
4. D. Dangerous and unpredictable
Answer: B

17.

Who answers the questions in the poem?

18.

1. A. The traveler’s companion

2. B. A divine or all-knowing voice
3. C. The traveler’s subconscious
4. D. An experienced guide
Answer: B

19.

What does "darkness" represent in the poem?

20.

1. A. Physical night
2. B. Spiritual and moral challenges
3. C. A metaphor for fear
4. D. All of the above
Answer: D

21.

What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

22.

1. A. ABAB
 2. B. AABB
3. C. ABCB
4. D. ABBA
Answer: C

23.

What does the traveler seek assurance about?

24.

1. A. The road’s difficulty

2. B. A place to rest
3. C. Being welcomed at the end of the journey
4. D. All of the above
Answer: D

25.

What type of literary device is used in "Up-Hill"?

26.

1. A. Allegory
2. B. Simile
3. C. Hyperbole
4. D. Personification
Answer: A

27.

How does the second speaker differ from the traveler?

28.

1. A. The speaker is doubtful

2. B. The speaker is experienced and certain
3. C. The speaker is indifferent
4. D. The speaker is fearful
Answer: B

29.

What does the journey in the poem symbolize?

30.

1. A. A literal walk
2. B. Life’s struggles and efforts
 3. C. A pilgrimage
4. D. Nature’s beauty
Answer: B

31.

What does "day" represent in the poem?

32.

1. A. A lifetime of effort
2. B. A period of happiness
3. C. A literal day
4. D. A moment of clarity
Answer: A

33.

What does the second speaker promise at the end of the journey?

34.

1. A. Eternal rest
2. B. A reunion with loved ones
3. C. A reward for faith
4. D. A journey’s end
Answer: A

35.

What is the tone of the answers provided in the poem?

36.

1. A. Encouraging and comforting

2. B. Skeptical and questioning
3. C. Indifferent and dismissive
4. D. Melancholic and resigned
Answer: A

37.

What is emphasized through the alternating meter in the poem?

38.

1. A. The traveler’s anxiety versus the guide’s calmness

2. B. The journey’s complexity
3. C. The poem’s allegorical meaning
 ‫‪4. D. The importance of rhythm in life‬‬
‫‪Answer: A‬‬

‫‪39.‬‬

‫?‪What does the final line emphasize‬‬

‫‪40.‬‬

‫‪1.‬‬ ‫‪A. Only the strong can rest‬‬

‫‪2.‬‬ ‫‪B. All who seek will find comfort‬‬
‫‪3.‬‬ ‫‪C. The traveler’s doubts remain‬‬
‫‪4.‬‬ ‫‪D. The journey continues forever‬‬
‫‪Answer: B‬‬

‫‪SECTION THREE‬‬
‫‪NINETEENTH CENTURY AMERICAN POETRY‬‬
‫‪BACKGROUND‬‬

‫‪ (Transcendentalism):‬الفلسفة المتعالية ·‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫الفكر ده كان بيؤمن إن اإلنسان يقدر يكتشف انسجامه مع الطبيعة ومع الروح الكونية ·‬
‫‪.‬عن طريق البصيرة الشخصية مش عن طريق المؤسسات أو العقائد )‪(Oversoul‬‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫‪.‬الطبيعة كانت رمز للروح‪ ،‬وكل كلمة أو فكرة كانت في األصل قصيدة‬

‫‪ (Ralph Waldo Emerson):‬رالف والدو إيمرسون ·‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪.‬كان بيشوف الشاعر كوسيط بين الروح والطبيعة‪ ،‬وعنده قدرة على استقبال ونقل اإللهام ·‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫للشعر‪ ،‬يعني شكل القصيدة يطلع من تجربة اإللهام )‪ (organic form‬اقترح فكرة الشكل العضوي‬
‫‪.‬نفسها مش من قواعد تقليدية‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫"‪.‬قال إن "كل كلمة كانت في وقت من األوقات قصيدة‬

‫‪ (Edgar Allan Poe):‬إدجار آالن بو ·‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪.‬بتعبر عن انبهاره بفكرة الشاعر الملهم بس كمان عن إحباطه منها "‪ "Israfel‬قصيدته ·‬

‫‪ (Walt Whitman):‬والت ويتمان ·‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪" (free verse).‬طور فكرة إيمرسون وخلق ثورة في كتابة الشعر بتقنية "الشعر الحر ·‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫الشعر الحر مش بيتقيد بطول معين لألسطر أو قافية‪ ،‬لكنه بيعتمد على التكرار في اإليقاع‬
‫‪.‬والعبارات‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫عمل شخصية "الشاعر النبي" اللي بتعبر عن الذات الديمقراطية اللي بتندمج مع الطبيعة‬
‫‪.‬والمدينة‬

‫‪ (Emily Dickinson):‬إميلي ديكنسون ·‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪.‬كانت بتمثل الجانب العكسي لوتمان‪ ،‬يعني ركزت على الدراما الداخلية والوعي الشخصي ·‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫لكنها كانت بتكتب الشعر ‪ (hymnal quatrains)،‬استخدمت أشكال بسيطة زي رباعيات األناشيد‬
‫‪.‬لحظة بلحظة بحساسية عالية جًدا‬
‫‪‬‬ ‫‪.‬رفضت الضغوط االجتماعية على المرأة غير المتزوجة وقتها‪ ،‬واحتفظت باستقاللها ككاتبة‬
  ‫ بدأت تجمع قصايدها وتربطها بخيط وتحفظها في درج لحد ما اكتشفوها بعد‬،‫في أواخر حياتها‬
‫وفاتها‬.

· ‫( االنتقال إلى الحداثة‬Modernism):

 · ‫ وكان فيه‬،‫األيديولوجيا الرومانسية اللي شجعت اإلبداع والتجريب في نص القرن انتهت‬

‫احتياج لتوجه جديد زي الحداثة عشان تلهم جيل جديد من الشعراء األمريكان‬.

0 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) on Ralph Waldo

Emerson's "The Snow-Storm"

1. What philosophy underpins "The Snow-Storm"?

A. Realism
B. Romanticism
C. Transcendentalism
D. Naturalism
Answer: C. Transcendentalism

2. What does Emerson compare the north wind to in the

poem?

A. A warrior
B. An artificer
C. A musician
D. A shepherd
Answer: B. An artificer

3. How does the snowstorm create its “art”?

A. By following strict patterns

B. Through random and unplanned designs
C. By imitating human architecture
D. With help from humans
Answer: B. Through random and unplanned designs

4. What is the "frolic architecture" mentioned in the poem?

A. A human-made building
B. Snow’s transformation of the landscape
C. A city covered in snow
D. A painting of nature
Answer: B. Snow’s transformation of the landscape

5. What literary device is most prominent in "The Snow-

Storm"?

A. Simile
B. Alliteration
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
Answer: C. Personification

6. What does the storm’s art symbolize?

A. The destructiveness of nature

B. The playful yet superior creativity of nature
C. Human resilience against storms
D. The permanence of art
Answer: B. The playful yet superior creativity of nature

7. How do the housemates initially react to the storm?

A. They admire its beauty

B. They join in its artistry
C. They ignore it and sit by the fire
D. They fear its power
Answer: C. They ignore it and sit by the fire

8. What is the poem’s view of human-made structures?

A. Superior to nature’s work

B. Equal to nature’s artistry
C. Lacking in beauty and playfulness
D. Perfectly harmonious with nature
Answer: C. Lacking in beauty and playfulness

9. What meter does the poem primarily follow?

A. Free verse
B. Iambic pentameter
C. Trochaic tetrameter
D. Blank verse
Answer: B. Iambic pentameter

10. What role does the sunrise play in the poem?

A. It destroys the snowstorm’s work

B. It reveals the art created by the storm
C. It signals the end of winter
D. It symbolizes humanity’s power
Answer: B. It reveals the art created by the storm

11. What do the wind and snow "mock" in the poem?

A. Human emotions
B. Traditional forms of creation
C. Other natural elements
D. The strength of buildings
Answer: B. Traditional forms of creation

12. What does the storm achieve in just one night?

A. It builds “slow structures”

B. It covers the landscape in a uniform layer of snow
C. It transforms the landscape into a masterpiece
D. It destroys human settlements
Answer: C. It transforms the landscape into a masterpiece

13. According to Emerson, what quality does the wind

possess?

A. Balance and creativity

B. Chaos and destruction
C. Calmness and serenity
D. Precision and accuracy
Answer: A. Balance and creativity

14. How does the poem view the poet’s role in society?
A. A technical craftsman
B. A liberating creator like nature
C. A passive observer
D. A follower of traditional rules
Answer: B. A liberating creator like nature

15. What is Emerson’s primary theme in "The Snow-Storm"?

A. The fragility of human life

B. The beauty of human art
C. Nature’s transcendent artistry
D. The destructive power of storms
Answer: C. Nature’s transcendent artistry

16. What does the poem suggest about the connection

between humans and nature?

A. Humans always appreciate nature

B. Humans often ignore nature’s beauty
C. Humans are superior to nature
D. Humans control nature
Answer: B. Humans often ignore nature’s beauty

17. What word does Emerson use to describe the wind?

A. Savage
B. Fierce
C. Graceful
D. Gentle
Answer: B. Fierce

18. What traditional process does the storm mock?

A. Farming practices
B. Building slow, stone-by-stone structures
C. The act of painting landscapes
D. The creation of poetry
Answer: B. Building slow, stone-by-stone structures

19. What does the storm leave behind after its work?
A. Destruction
B. A hidden landscape
C. Art
D. Silence
Answer: C. Art

20. How does Emerson describe the farmer’s perspective of

the storm?

A. The farmer admires its creativity

B. The farmer feels indifferent to its artistry
C. The farmer is deeply inspired by the storm
D. The farmer sees the storm as a threat
Answer: B. The farmer feels indifferent to its artistry

Here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the analysis of the

poem "On the Move" by Thom Gunn, along with the correct answers:

1. What does the poem "On the Move" primarily

explore?

A. The beauty of nature

B. The existential restlessness of modern individuals
C. The role of religion in human life
D. The dangers of technology
Answer: B

2. What group does "the Boys" in the poem represent?

A. A flock of birds
B. Hells-Angels-like motorcyclists
C. Soldiers in a war
D. Young poets of the 1950s
Answer: B

3. Which philosophical influences are evident in the

poem?

A. Romanticism and Transcendentalism

B. Existentialism of Sartre and Camus
C. Stoicism and Hedonism
D. Idealism and Pragmatism
Answer: B

4. How does the poem begin?

A. With an image of motorcyclists

B. By describing the movement of birds
C. By discussing philosophical ideas
D. With a reflection on human destiny
Answer: B

5. What do the goggles and jackets symbolize for "the

Boys"?

A. Confidence and identity

B. Protection from the elements and concealed doubt
C. Their connection to nature
D. Their commitment to tradition
Answer: B

6. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?

A. ABAB CDCD
B. AABBCCDD
C. ABACCDDB
D. ABBA CDDC
Answer: C

7. In the poem, the birds are portrayed as having:

A. Uncertain motives
B. A hidden purpose driven by instinct
C. No sense of direction
D. A conflict between instinct and reason
Answer: B

8. What do the motorcyclists symbolize?

A. The search for meaning in a valueless world
B. The clash between modernity and tradition
C. The harmony between humans and machines
D. The inevitability of fate
Answer: A

9. What is suggested about the motorcyclists' path?

A. It is predetermined by divine forces

B. It is driven by instinct like the birds
C. It follows the pressure of the tires, without clear direction
D. It mirrors the paths of saints
Answer: C

10. What is the poem’s central paradox?

A. Humans are instinctual but lack purpose

B. Humans search for instinctual poise despite their self-consciousness
C. Machines represent both freedom and oppression
D. Movement leads to stillness
Answer: B

11. What happens in the final stanza of the poem?

A. The motorcyclists achieve their goal

B. The idea of restlessness is emphasized
C. The birds reappear as symbols of freedom
D. A resolution to existential conflict is presented
Answer: B

12. What is the significance of the line, "One is always

nearer by not keeping still"?

A. Movement brings individuals closer to understanding or purpose

B. Stillness is more important than motion
C. Restlessness is a sign of failure
D. Physical motion is the only path to happiness
Answer: A
13. What does the phrase "strap in doubt" imply about
"the Boys"?

A. They are fearless and confident

B. They are securing their thoughts
C. They hide their uncertainty under a confident exterior
D. They are lost and confused
Answer: C

14. How does the poem compare humans to birds?

A. Humans are more instinctual than birds

B. Birds have a clear purpose, while humans do not
C. Humans are as free as birds in their movements
D. Birds and humans share the same existential conflicts
Answer: B

15. What does the observer in the poem try to

understand?

A. The natural movements of birds

B. The motives behind human restlessness
C. The purpose of life
D. The mechanics of motorcycles
Answer: B

16. What role do machines play in the poem?

A. They represent freedom and control

B. They symbolize human domination over nature
C. They contrast with human instinct
D. They signify the loss of individuality
Answer: A

17. How does the poem describe the world?

A. As inherently meaningful
B. As valueless and absurd
C. As balanced and harmonious
D. As chaotic but purposeful
Answer: B
18. What literary movement was influenced by the
poem "On the Move"?

A. Romanticism
B. The Movement of the 1950s
C. Modernism
D. Transcendentalism
Answer: B

19. What is the ultimate conclusion of the poem?

A. Restlessness defines human existence

B. Purpose is achieved through instinct
C. Machines are superior to human effort
D. The journey is more important than the destination
Answer: D

20. What does the word "still" in the last line signify?

A. A longing for peace

B. The absence of motion
C. A paradoxical sense of purpose through restlessness
D. The inevitability of failure
Answer: C

Here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the provided analysis of

H.D.'s poem "Helen," along with their answers:

MCQs

1.

Who is the central figure in H.D.'s poem "Helen"?

a) Athena
b) Aphrodite
c) Helen of Troy
d) Paris
Answer: c) Helen of Troy
 2.
3.

Why do the Greeks hate Helen, according to the poem?

a) She betrayed her family.
b) She is blamed for starting the Trojan War.
c) She rejected all Greek suitors.
d) She favored Troy over Greece.
Answer: b) She is blamed for starting the Trojan War.

4.
5.

What does Helen symbolize in the poem?

a) The ultimate betrayal
b) The burden of beauty and its consequences
c) A goddess of peace
d) The power of love
Answer: b) The burden of beauty and its consequences

6.
7.

What literary form does "Helen" take?

a) A narrative poem
b) A free verse modernist poem
c) A traditional sonnet
d) A rhymed couplet poem
Answer: b) A free verse modernist poem

8.
9.

How is Helen depicted in the poem?

a) As a living, breathing person
b) As a marble statue
c) As a goddess
d) As a warrior
Answer: b) As a marble statue

10.
11.

What do the "wan" and "white" descriptions of Helen emphasize?

a) Her liveliness and vibrancy
b) Her purity and coldness
c) Her emotional intensity
d) Her divine nature
Answer: b) Her purity and coldness
 12.
13.

What does Helen's skin being "as smooth as olives" symbolize?

a) Her connection to Greek culture
b) Her love for food
c) Her divine ancestry
d) Her vulnerability
Answer: a) Her connection to Greek culture

14.
15.

What do the cypress trees symbolize in the poem?

a) Peace and prosperity
b) Love and passion
c) Life after death
d) Chaos and destruction
Answer: c) Life after death

16.
17.

How do the Greeks perceive Helen’s beauty in her death?

a) They adore it.
b) They revere it as divine.
c) They hate it even more.
d) They are indifferent to it.
Answer: c) They hate it even more.

18.
19.

What technique is used to describe Helen as an object of desire and

revulsion?
a) Personification
b) Paradox
c) Metaphor
d) Hyperbole
Answer: b) Paradox

20.
21.

Which poetic movement is "Helen" associated with?

a) Romanticism
b) Imagism
c) Realism
d) Symbolism
Answer: b) Imagism

22.
23.

How does H.D. describe the Greeks' hatred in the poem?

a) Continuous and all-encompassing
b) Temporary and fleeting
c) Limited to certain individuals
d) Based on misunderstanding
Answer: a) Continuous and all-encompassing

24.
25.

What does the repetition of "All Greece" signify in the poem?

a) Unity in admiration for Helen
b) Collective hatred for Helen
c) Indifference towards Helen
d) A call for war
Answer: b) Collective hatred for Helen

26.
27.

How does H.D. view Helen's portrayal in Greek history?

a) As a misunderstood hero
b) As a victim of objectification
c) As a divine figure
d) As a cunning manipulator
Answer: b) As a victim of objectification

28.
29.

What do Helen’s feet and knees symbolize in the poem?

a) Her divine power
b) Her unattainable perfection
c) Her humanity
d) Her resilience
Answer: b) Her unattainable perfection

30.
31.

What does H.D. suggest about the Greeks' cultural identity through their
hatred for Helen?
a) It is defined by their reverence for beauty.
 b) It is shaped by their hatred of desire and its consequences.
c) It is rooted in forgiveness and understanding.
d) It is tied to their artistic achievements.
Answer: b) It is shaped by their hatred of desire and its consequences.

32.
33.

What structural feature reflects the buildup of malice in the poem?

a) Increasing line length in each stanza
b) The use of formal rhyme schemes
c) The presence of repeated refrains
d) A consistent meter throughout
Answer: a) Increasing line length in each stanza

34.
35.

What does the phrase "pure white ashes" symbolize?

a) Rebirth
b) Helen's ultimate purification through death
c) The triumph of Greece over Troy
d) The end of desire
Answer: b) Helen's ultimate purification through death

36.
37.

Why does H.D. portray Helen as both smiling and wan?

a) To show her joy in being revered
b) To highlight her complex legacy as both loved and hated
c) To emphasize her indifference to others' opinions
d) To portray her divine detachment
Answer: b) To highlight her complex legacy as both loved and hated

38.
39.

What central theme does the poem explore?

a) The futility of war
b) The destructive power of beauty and desire
c) The reconciliation of love and hate
d) The immortality of myth
Answer: b) The destructive power of beauty and desire

40.

Here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in English, along with their answers:
 1.

Who wrote "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"?

a) Emily Dickinson
b) Wallace Stevens
c) Robert Frost
d) William Blake
Answer: b) Wallace Stevens

2.
3.

What is the central theme of "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"?

a) The importance of intellect
b) The enjoyment of life and material pleasure
c) The transcendence of physical existence
d) The rejection of reality
Answer: b) The enjoyment of life and material pleasure

4.
5.

What does the phrase "Let be be finale of seem" suggest?

a) Life is an illusion
b) Accept reality as it is
c) Seek beauty in appearances
d) Focus on the afterlife
Answer: b) Accept reality as it is

6.
7.

What does the "emperor of ice-cream" symbolize?

a) A ruler of a distant land
b) The fleeting pleasures of life
c) The power of intellect
d) A spiritual leader
Answer: b) The fleeting pleasures of life

8.
9.

What literary device is used in the phrase "concupiscent curds"?

a) Hyperbole
b) Oxymoron
c) Alliteration
d) Simile
Answer: b) Oxymoron
 10.
11.

What is the significance of the "dumb" woman in the poem?

a) She represents wisdom
b) She is dead and silent
c) She is ignorant
d) She is unable to speak
Answer: b) She is dead and silent

12.
13.

What is the tone of the poem "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"?

a) Joyful and celebratory
b) Somber and reflective
c) Angry and bitter
d) Mournful and sad
Answer: a) Joyful and celebratory

14.
15.

Which of the following is an image used in the poem?

a) A king on a throne
b) Broken dresser and old newspapers
c) A vast, empty ocean
d) A golden crown
Answer: b) Broken dresser and old newspapers

16.
17.

What does the "lamp" symbolize in the poem?

a) Illumination of truth
b) Divine light
c) Material wealth
d) Knowledge and wisdom
Answer: a) Illumination of truth

18.
19.

What does the poet suggest about appearance in the poem?

a) Appearance is more important than reality
b) Appearance should be ignored completely
c) Appearance should reflect inner truth
d) Appearance is secondary to reality
Answer: d) Appearance is secondary to reality
 20.
21.

Which of the following words is used as a pun in the poem?

a) Ice-cream
b) Dumb
c) Emperor
d) Curds
Answer: b) Dumb

22.
23.

What is meant by "The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream"?

a) Ice-cream is the most important thing in life
b) Only physical pleasures matter
c) Material pleasures rule over all
d) The emperor of ice-cream is a literal ruler
Answer: c) Material pleasures rule over all

24.
25.

Which of the following images is associated with the "wenches" in the

poem?
a) Royal attire
b) Ordinary dresses
c) Rich jewelry
d) Sacred robes
Answer: b) Ordinary dresses

26.
27.

What is the role of the "roller of big cigars"?

a) A symbol of intellectualism
b) A representation of masculine strength
c) A worker producing something luxurious
d) A person who creates art
Answer: b) A representation of masculine strength

28.
29.

What type of poetry does Wallace Stevens often write?

a) Simple and straightforward
b) Complex and intellectual
c) Rhymed and metered
d) Focused on nature
Answer: b) Complex and intellectual

30.
31.

What does Stevens suggest about life in "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"?

a) Life is long and eternal
b) Life should be lived with pleasure while it lasts
c) Life is filled with suffering and should be avoided
d) Life is meaningless and should be ignored
Answer: b) Life should be lived with pleasure while it lasts

32.
33.

What does "the dresser of deal" refer to?

a) A luxurious wooden dresser
b) A cheap, almost broken piece of furniture
c) A decorative piece of art
d) A symbol of death
Answer: b) A cheap, almost broken piece of furniture

34.
35.

Which of the following devices does Stevens use in the poem?

a) Irony and satire
b) Metaphor and symbolism
c) Personification and imagery
d) Allegory and parable
Answer: b) Metaphor and symbolism

36.
37.

In the poem, what is the purpose of the "deal" dresser and the "broken"
elements?
a) To emphasize the beauty of life
b) To represent the impermanence of material things
c) To create an idyllic, peaceful setting
d) To suggest the perfection of reality
Answer: b) To represent the impermanence of material things

38.
39.

What is the ultimate message of "The Emperor of Ice-Cream"?

a) Life is meaningless without beauty
 b) We should focus on intellectual achievements
c) We should enjoy life’s pleasures while we can
d) The afterlife is more important than this life
Answer: c) We should enjoy life’s pleasures while we can

40.

MCQs on Wallace Stevens' "Of Modern Poetry"

1.

What is the primary focus of "Of Modern Poetry"?

a) Romantic ideals
b) The process of finding what will suffice
c) Traditional poetic structures
d) Escaping reality
Answer: b) The process of finding what will suffice

2.
3.

What metaphor does Stevens use to describe traditional poetry?

a) A piece of music
b) A stage with predetermined scenes and scripts
c) A flowing river
d) A painter’s canvas
Answer: b) A stage with predetermined scenes and scripts

4.
5.

What does the word "modern" in "Of Modern Poetry" imply?

a) Romanticism
b) Obsolete forms
c) Contemporary or related to modernism
d) Historical perspectives
Answer: c) Contemporary or related to modernism

6.
7.

What major historical event is indirectly referenced in the poem?

a) The Great Depression
b) World War I
c) World War II
d) The Cold War
Answer: c) World War II

8.
 9.

What does the poem suggest about poetry's relationship with reality?
a) Poetry should escape reality.
b) Poetry must confront and engage with reality.
c) Poetry should create its own reality.
d) Poetry should avoid reality entirely.
Answer: b) Poetry must confront and engage with reality.

10.
11.

What role does the audience play in the poem?

a) Passive observer
b) Separate from the poet
c) Active participant
d) Critic of the poet
Answer: c) Active participant

12.
13.

What artistic forms are mentioned in the poem as metaphors for poetry?
a) Painting and sculpture
b) Music, acting, and metaphysics
c) Literature and dance
d) Architecture and design
Answer: b) Music, acting, and metaphysics

14.
15.

What does the term "the poem of the act of the mind" signify?
a) Traditional poetic conventions
b) Poetry grounded in lived experience and action
c) Escapist and imaginative poetry
d) Poetry about nature
Answer: b) Poetry grounded in lived experience and action

16.
17.

What literary device is prominently used in the poem?

a) Simile
b) Allegory
c) Metaphor
d) Hyperbole
Answer: c) Metaphor
 18.
19.

What does the metaphor of a "stage" represent in the poem?

a) The poet’s struggle
b) The interaction of poet, poem, and audience
c) Traditional poetry only
d) A literal performance
Answer: b) The interaction of poet, poem, and audience

20.
21.

How does Stevens describe the creative mind in modern poetry?

a) Passive and reflective
b) Searching and engaged
c) Fixed and rigid
d) Detached and indifferent
Answer: b) Searching and engaged

22.
23.

What does Stevens imply about traditional poetic forms?

a) They should be preserved unchanged.
b) They no longer suffice for contemporary needs.
c) They are superior to modern forms.
d) They are irrelevant to all ages.
Answer: b) They no longer suffice for contemporary needs.

24.
25.

How does the poem describe the audience's experience with poetry?
a) Listening to the play itself
b) Reflecting on their own inner thoughts
c) Observing the poet only
d) Reading in isolation
Answer: b) Reflecting on their own inner thoughts

26.
27.

What action does the poet compare to a musician in the poem?

a) Creating harmony
b) Composing a symphony
c) Stirring the imagination
d) Singing a melody
Answer: c) Stirring the imagination
 28.
29.

What does the poem suggest about the subject matter of modern poetry?
a) It must be about grand historical events.
b) It should only focus on personal experiences.
c) It can include simple, everyday acts of living.
d) It should avoid contemporary issues.
Answer: c) It can include simple, everyday acts of living.

30.
31.

Why does Stevens use run-on lines and present participles in the poem?
a) To reflect the continuous and active nature of life
b) To adhere to traditional poetic forms
c) To confuse the reader
d) To create a rigid structure
Answer: a) To reflect the continuous and active nature of life

32.
33.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a metaphor for the poet in

the poem?
a) A metaphysician
b) A dancer
c) An actor
d) A musician
Answer: b) A dancer

34.
35.

What does Stevens mean by “learning the speech of the place”?

a) Adapting poetry to the local dialect
b) Understanding the language and concerns of the time
c) Translating poetry into other languages
d) Speaking in traditional poetic forms
Answer: b) Understanding the language and concerns of the time

36.
37.

What does the poem suggest is the ultimate goal of modern poetry?
a) To entertain
b) To provide an escape from reality
c) To foster understanding and contentment
 d) To critique the past
Answer: c) To foster understanding and contentment

38.
39.

What image is used at the end of the poem to illustrate poetry’s

connection with life?
a) A battlefield
b) A man skating and women dancing and combing their hair
c) A stage and spotlight
d) A musician playing an instrument
Answer: b) A man skating and women dancing and combing their hair

40.

MCQ Questions on Walt Whitman’s "Cavalry Crossing

a Ford"

1.

What is the main scene depicted in "Cavalry Crossing a Ford"?

a) A battle scene
b) Soldiers crossing a river
c) Soldiers resting in a camp
d) Soldiers marching on a road
Answer: b) Soldiers crossing a river

2.
3.

What poetic form is "Cavalry Crossing a Ford" written in?

a) Sonnet
b) Free verse
c) Haiku
d) Blank verse
Answer: b) Free verse

4.
5.

How does the poem initially describe the soldiers?

a) As individuals
b) As a single entity, a "line in long array"
c) As resting under a tree
d) As engaged in a fierce battle
Answer: b) As a single entity, a "line in long array"

6.
 7.

What is the main imagery used in the poem's first line?

a) Green islands and a winding line
b) Flags fluttering in the wind
c) Soldiers in combat
d) A calm river and horses
Answer: a) Green islands and a winding line

8.
9.

What does the term "negligent" suggest about the soldiers in the poem?
a) Carelessness
b) Confidence and self-possession
c) Recklessness
d) Laziness
Answer: b) Confidence and self-possession

10.
11.

What contrasts are highlighted in the poem?

a) The soldiers’ fatigue and the clean flags
b) The river’s calmness and the soldiers’ movement
c) The soldiers’ unity and their individuality
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

12.
13.

What role do the flags play in the poem?

a) They symbolize political institutions and unity
b) They represent the soldiers' struggles
c) They depict the soldiers’ ranks
d) They signify defeat
Answer: a) They symbolize political institutions and unity

14.
15.

Which poetic device is most prevalent in the poem?

a) Rhyme
b) Personification
c) Imagery
d) Metaphor
Answer: c) Imagery
 16.
17.

What type of tone does the poem primarily convey?

a) Aggressive
b) Reflective and observational
c) Melancholic
d) Cheerful
Answer: b) Reflective and observational

18.
19.

How does Whitman describe the soldiers in the middle of the poem?
a) As “brown-faced men, each person a picture”
b) As weary and battle-worn
c) As careless and undisciplined
d) As marching in rigid formation
Answer: a) As “brown-faced men, each person a picture”

20.
21.

What is the primary function of the conjunction “while” in the last two
lines?
a) To introduce a new idea
b) To connect the flags to the rest of the imagery
c) To signify a change in tone
d) To highlight the soldiers’ movement
Answer: b) To connect the flags to the rest of the imagery

22.
23.

How does the poem present the relationship between the soldiers and the
natural world?
a) As antagonistic
b) As intertwined and harmonious
c) As separate and distinct
d) As destructive
Answer: b) As intertwined and harmonious

24.
25.

What do the "scarlet and snowy white" flags represent?

a) The soldiers’ ranks
b) The political institutions or ideals they fight for
c) The harsh realities of war
d) The natural beauty of the scene
Answer: b) The political institutions or ideals they fight for

26.
27.

Why does the poem feel "effortless" or "artless" despite its complexity?
a) Because of its free verse structure
b) Due to the simplicity of the language used
c) Because the speaker’s control is subtle
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

28.
29.

How are the soldiers depicted as both individuals and a collective?

a) By showing their distinct features and then merging them into a line
b) By describing their personalities
c) Through the symbolism of the flags
d) By focusing on their battle formations
Answer: a) By showing their distinct features and then merging them into a
line

30.
31.

What theme is prominent in this poem, reflective of Whitman’s larger

body of work?
a) The horrors of war
b) The unity and individuality within a democratic nation
c) The glorification of soldiers
d) The power of nature over man
Answer: b) The unity and individuality within a democratic nation

32.
33.

What does the phrase “each person a picture” imply about the soldiers?
a) Their individuality
b) Their fatigue
c) Their uniformity
d) Their disconnection
Answer: a) Their individuality

34.
35.
What does the speaker’s lack of a first-person presence suggest?
a) The poem is impersonal
b) The focus is on the scene, not the narrator
c) The poem lacks depth
d) The speaker is unsure of his perspective
Answer: b) The focus is on the scene, not the narrator

36.
37.

How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?

a) The free verse mirrors the fluidity of the river and soldiers’ movement
b) The rigid lines reflect the soldiers’ discipline
c) The rhyming pattern emphasizes the flags
d) The short lines highlight the soldiers’ fatigue
Answer: a) The free verse mirrors the fluidity of the river and soldiers’
movement

38.
39.

What is one possible interpretation of the separate depiction of flags?

a) Flags symbolize the unity of soldiers and politics
b) Flags are separate, indicating a disconnect between ideals and individuals
c) Flags represent the soldiers' hope
d) Flags show the fragility of the soldiers’ cause
Answer: b) Flags are separate, indicating a disconnect between ideals and
individuals

40.