Answer: B. Nature and Beauty. Explanation: The poem emphasizes the beauty in nature and suggests that life can be perfect in small proportions, just like the beauty we see in small things. It uses the imagery of an oak tree and a lily to illustrate this theme. The oak tree, despite its longevity and size, ends up as a dry, dead log, while the lily, though it lives only for a day, is beautiful and brings light to the world. This suggests that beauty and perfection are not about size or longevity, but about quality and impact. The poem thus encourages us to appreciate the fleeting, beautiful moments in life.
Answer: A. Strength and Longevity. Explanation: It stands for a long time (three hundred years), but despite its strength and longevity, it falls as a dry, bald, and sere log. This contrasts with the lily, which is beautiful and full of light, even though it lives only for a day. The oak tree in the poem is used to convey the message that size and longevity do not necessarily equate to a better or more fulfilling life.
Answer: B. Beauty and Fragility. Explanation: Despite its short lifespan, the lily is described as fairer and the “plant and flower of Light”. This suggests that it represents beauty, light, and perhaps the fragility of life, which can be beautiful and meaningful even if it is fleeting.
5. According to the poem, what makes life perfect? A. Size and longevity B. Beauty and fragility C. Small proportions and short measures D. Strength and wisdom
Answer: C. Small proportions and short measures. Explanation: The poem suggests that we can find beauty in small things, and life can be perfect in short measures. It’s a reminder to appreciate the fleeting, beautiful moments in life.
8. Although it fall and die that night, it was the A. Plant and shine as light B. Plant and flower of light C. Plant that withers that night D. Plant that dies that night
Answer: B. Plant and flower of light. Explanation: This line from the poem “The Noble Nature” by Ben Jonson refers to the lily, which, despite its short lifespan, is described as the “plant and flower of Light”. This suggests that it represents beauty, light, and perhaps the fragility of life, which can be beautiful and meaningful even if it is fleeting.
9. What does the phrase “It is not growing like a tree in bulk, doth make man better be” mean? A. Growing physically makes a person better. B. Growing like a tree makes a person wise. C. Size and longevity do not determine a person’s worth. D. A person should strive to be as strong as a tree.
Answer: C. Size and longevity do not determine a person’s worth. Explanation: In the context of the poem, the poet is suggesting that simply growing in size (like a tree) or living for a long time does not necessarily make a person better or more valuable. It’s the quality of one’s life and actions, not the quantity or duration, that truly matters.
10. What does the phrase “A lily of a day is fairer far in May, although it fall and die that night” mean? A. A lily is more beautiful in May. B. A lily is more beautiful even if it dies the same day. C. A lily is more beautiful than an oak tree. D. A lily is more beautiful when it falls and dies.
Answer: B. A lily is more beautiful even if it dies the same day. Explanation: The poet is emphasizing the transient beauty of the lily, which, despite its short lifespan, is still beautiful. This suggests the idea that beauty and worth are not determined by longevity, but by the quality and impact one can have in a short time.
11. What does the phrase “In small proportions we just beauties see” mean? A. Beauty can only be seen in small things. B. Beauty is proportional to size. C. Beauty can be found in small proportions. D. Beauty is subjective and varies from person to person.
Answer: C. Beauty can be found in small proportions. Explanation: The poet is suggesting that beauty is often found in small, seemingly insignificant things or moments. It’s a reminder to appreciate the small things in life, as they often hold great beauty.
12. What does the phrase “And in short measures life may perfect be” mean? A. Life is perfect when it is short. B. Life can be perfect in short measures. C. Life is measured by its length. D. Life is perfect when it is long.
Answer: B. Life can be perfect in short measures. Explanation: The poet is suggesting that a life, even if it’s short, can be perfect. It’s not the length but the quality of life that determines its perfection. This is a reminder to appreciate the moments in life, as they can hold great beauty and perfection, regardless of their duration.
Answer: C. Reflective and philosophical. Explanation: The poem encourages deep thought about the nature of life and beauty, suggesting that these can be found in small proportions and short measures. It’s a contemplative piece that invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions of life and beauty.
Answer: D. Rhymed couplets. Explanation: The poem is woven together by rhyming couplets and has an iambic meter, with the beat falling on every second syllable.
Answer: C. Reflective. Explanation: The poem encourages deep thought about the nature of life and beauty, suggesting that these can be found in small proportions and short measures. It’s a contemplative piece that invites readers to reflect on their own perceptions of life and beauty.
17. What is the message of the poem? A. Size and longevity determine a person’s worth. B. Beauty and fragility are fleeting. C. Beauty can be found in small proportions, and life can be perfect in short measures. D. Strength and wisdom are the keys to a perfect life.
Answer: C. Beauty can be found in small proportions, and life can be perfect in short measures. Explanation: The poem suggests that it’s not the size or longevity that determines the worth or beauty of something, but rather its quality and impact, even if it’s fleeting. It’s a reminder to appreciate the small things in life, as they often hold great beauty and perfection, regardless of their duration.
18. What does the phrase “To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere” mean? A. The oak tree will eventually fall and die. B. The oak tree will become dry, bald, and sere. C. The oak tree will fall and become a log. D. The oak tree will last for a long time.
Answer: A. The oak tree will eventually fall and die. Explanation: Despite its strength and longevity, the oak tree ultimately falls and becomes a dry, bald, and sere log. This is used in the poem to contrast with the lily, which, despite its short lifespan, is still beautiful and brings light to the world.
19. What does the phrase “It was the plant and flower of Light” mean? A. The lily is a plant and flower of light. B. The lily represents light and beauty. C. The lily is a symbol of light. D. The lily is a source of light.
Answer: B. The lily represents light and beauty. Explanation: In the context of the poem, the lily, despite its short lifespan, is described as the “plant and flower of Light”. This suggests that it represents beauty, light, and perhaps the fragility of life, which can be beautiful and meaningful even if it is fleeting.
20. What does the phrase “In bulk, doth make man better be” mean? A. Growing in bulk makes a man better. B. Size and longevity make a man better. C. A man is better when he is large in size. D. A man is better when he is strong and wise.
Answer: B. Size and longevity make a man better. Explanation: However, it’s important to note that in the context of the poem, the poet is actually arguing against this idea. The poet suggests that simply growing in size (like a tree) or living for a long time does not necessarily make a person better or more valuable. It’s the quality of one’s life and actions, not the quantity or duration, that truly matters.
21. What does the phrase “Or standing long an oak, three hundred year” mean? A. An oak tree stands for three hundred years. B. An oak tree is stronger than a man. C. An oak tree represents strength and longevity. D. An oak tree is more beautiful than a lily.
Answer: A. Visual imagery. Explanation: The poem uses vivid descriptions that appeal to our sense of sight to create mental images. For instance, the comparison of a man to an oak tree and a lily creates a visual image in the reader’s mind. The oak tree is described as “dry, bald, and sere,” while the lily is described as the “plant and flower of Light,” both of which evoke strong visual images.
Answer: C. A lily. Explanation: The poem describes the lily as being fairer in May, even though it falls and dies that night. This suggests that the lily, despite its short lifespan, is beautiful and brings light to the world.
24. What is the symbolic significance of the phrase “plant and flower of Light”? A. The lily’s brevity B. The oak tree’s strength C. The significance of dryness D. The importance of baldness
Answer: A. The lily’s brevity. Explanation: In the poem, the lily, despite its short lifespan, is described as the “plant and flower of Light”. This suggests that it represents beauty, light, and perhaps the fragility of life, which can be beautiful and meaningful even if it is fleeting. So, the phrase symbolizes the transient yet impactful nature of the lily.
Answer: B. May. Explanation: The poem describes the lily as being fairer in May, even though it falls and dies that night. This suggests that the lily, despite its short lifespan, is beautiful and brings light to the world.
Answer: C. Dead and lifeless by “dry, bald, and sere”. Explanation: In the context of the poem, these words are used to describe the state of the oak tree after it falls. Despite its strength and longevity, the oak tree ultimately becomes a dry, bald, and sere log, symbolizing the end of its life.
Answer: A. Beauties. Explanation: The poem suggests that beauty and perfection can be found in small, fleeting moments, not just in grand or long-lasting things.
28. What is the significance of the phrase “plant and flower of Light”? A. It symbolizes the lily’s short life. B. It signifies the importance of oak trees. C. It represents the dryness of a log. D. It emphasizes the beauty of short-lived things.
Answer: D. It emphasizes the beauty of short-lived things. Explanation: The lily, despite its short life, is portrayed as a source of light and beauty, symbolizing the idea that something doesn’t have to last long to be valuable or beautiful. It’s the quality, not the quantity, that matters.
29. What is the poetic device used in the phrase “fall a log at last” to convey the idea of the oak tree’s end? A. Symbolism B. Irony C. Personification D. Metaphor
Answer: D. Metaphor. Explanation: This metaphor is used to convey the idea that despite the oak tree’s longevity, it eventually meets its end, becoming nothing more than a log. This contrasts with the lily, which, despite its short life, is portrayed as beautiful and full of light. It’s a reminder that the value of life is not determined by its length, but by its quality and impact.
Answer: A. Simile. Explanation: A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, usually by employing the words “like” or “as”. In this case, the poet is comparing the growth of a man to that of a tree using the word “like”.
Answer: B. Metaphor. Explanation: A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without using the words “like” or “as”. In this case, the poet is comparing a lily to a day in May, suggesting that it is beautiful and precious, even if it is fleeting.
