The Ocean by Nathaniel Hawthorn

Which TWO of the following statements best express a theme of the poem?

• The ocean is haunted by mysterious creatures.

• Death brings peace after the violent struggles of life.

• The sea is a more peaceful resting place than earth.

• The ocean is a volatile place of beauty and destruction.

• Sailors come to fear death by sea over time.

Which TWO of the following phrases from the poem best support the theme?

• “Though there be fury on the waves / Beneath them there is none.” (Lines 3-4)

• “The awful spirits of the deep / Hold their communion there” (Lines 5-6)

• “But peaceful sleep is ever there, / Beneath the dark blue waves.” (Lines 15-16)

• “The ocean solitudes are blest / For there is purity.” (Lines 11-12)

• “And there are those for whom we weep, / The young, the bright, the fair.” (Lines 7-8)

What is the effect of the juxtaposition in lines 13-16 on the meaning of the poem?

• It shows that the earth is loud and chaotic while the ocean has been silenced.

• It shows that the earth has been silenced, while the ocean is loud in a way people cannot hear.

• It shows how the earth is plagued by life’s troubles, but the ocean is free from such worries.

• It shows that the ocean allows people to escape from their painful reality.

Where does the shift in the poem occur?

• Between the 1st and 2nd stanza

• Between the 2nd and 3rd stanza

• Between the 3rd and 4th stanza

• There is no shift

How would you describe the tone before and after the shift

• amused, then frightened

• frustrated, then depressing

• grim, then peaceful

• bitter, then confused