Poetry Analysis Quiz set 3

In "The Frog and the Nightingale," the frog's motive can be described as:

• Purely altruistic.

• Selfish and cunning.

• Driven by artistic passion.

• Focused on community upliftment.

Answer explanation

The frog's actions in the poem are manipulative, using the nightingale's talent for his own gain. His behavior reveals a selfish and cunning nature, as he seeks to benefit from her success rather than support her genuinely.

"Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments" states that the poet's "powerful rhyme" will outlive:

• Only the poet's enemies.

• The love of kings and the ravages of war.

• The memories of the common people.

• Other, less significant poems.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'The love of kings and the ravages of war,' highlights that the poet's powerful rhyme transcends temporal power and conflict, suggesting that true art endures beyond fleeting human concerns.

The central message of "Ozymandias" concerns:

• The importance of respecting ancient ruins.

• The inevitable downfall of even the most powerful rulers and empires.

• The skill of ancient sculptors.

• The beauty of the desert landscape.

Answer explanation

The poem "Ozymandias" illustrates the inevitable downfall of powerful rulers and empires, as it depicts the ruins of a once-great statue, emphasizing that time erodes all human achievements.

The Mariner in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is forced to wear the dead bird around his neck as a symbol of his:

• High status among the crew.

• Guilt and the weight of his sin.

• Skill as a hunter.

• Protection from further danger.

Answer explanation

The Mariner wears the dead bird as a symbol of his guilt and the weight of his sin for killing the albatross, which brings misfortune to him and his crew, highlighting his remorse and the consequences of his actions.

In "Snake," the poet feels a profound sense of "pettiness" after:

• Watching the snake drink.

• Realizing he had disturbed a natural act.

• Harming the snake with a log.

• The snake disappears into the hole.

Answer explanation

The poet feels a sense of "pettiness" after realizing he disturbed a natural act, highlighting his awareness of the snake's rightful place in nature and his own intrusion into that moment.

Which poem uses the literary device of personification when describing the passage of time as having a "with'ring hand"?

• Ozymandias

• The Frog and the Nightingale

• Not Marble, Nor the Gilded Monuments

• The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

Answer explanation

The poem "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley personifies time with the phrase "with'ring hand," suggesting that time has the power to decay and diminish all things, emphasizing the transient nature of human achievements.

The nightingale's singing losing its "luster" and becoming "routine" in "The Frog and the Nightingale" signifies:

• Her growing tiredness from too much practice.

• The decline of her natural, spontaneous artistry.

• The frog's successful training methods.

• The changing tastes of the bog creatures.

Answer explanation

The nightingale's singing losing its 'luster' indicates a decline in her natural, spontaneous artistry, as she becomes overly reliant on practice and the frog's methods, rather than expressing her true, unique talent.

In "Ozymandias," the vast "lone and level sands" surrounding the broken statue underscore:

• The vastness of the king's original empire.

• The isolation of the ancient civilization.

• The insignificance of human power against nature and time.

• The arid conditions of the desert.

Answer explanation

The vast 'lone and level sands' emphasize how human achievements, like Ozymandias's empire, are ultimately insignificant when faced with the relentless forces of nature and time, highlighting the transience of power.

The Ancient Mariner's act of blessing the sea creatures, initially done without thinking, represents his:

• Scientific curiosity.

• Spiritual awakening and acceptance of all life.

• Desperate attempt to lift the curse.

• Fear of the unknown.

Answer explanation

The Ancient Mariner's blessing of the sea creatures signifies his spiritual awakening and acceptance of all life, transforming his initial indifference into a profound respect for nature and its interconnectedness.

The poem "Snake" explores the tension between:

• Human intelligence and animal instinct.

• Light and darkness.

• Primal instincts/superstitions and a deeper, reflective understanding of nature.

• The desire for water and the fear of danger.

Answer explanation

The poem "Snake" highlights the conflict between primal instincts, such as fear and superstition, and a more profound, reflective understanding of nature, emphasizing the complexity of human emotions towards the natural world.