The Garden by Andrew Marvell Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Questions
Who is the author of “The Garden”?
Andrew Marvell.
What is the form of the poem?
It’s a lyric poem written in rhymed couplets.
What is the setting of the poem?
The setting is a garden.
What is the main theme of the poem?
The beauty of nature, the power of solitude, and the human mind’s capacity for imagination.
What does the garden symbolize in the poem?
The garden symbolizes a state of mind that is at peace and in harmony with nature.
What is the tone of the poem?
The tone is contemplative and serene.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
The rhyme scheme is AABBCCDD.
What does the speaker find in the garden?
The speaker finds solace, peace, and tranquility in the garden.
What does the speaker compare the mind to?
The speaker compares the mind to an ocean.
What does the speaker do in the garden?
The speaker contemplates the beauty of nature and enjoys the simple pleasures of life.
What does the speaker say about society?
The speaker suggests that society is rude compared to the delicious solitude of the garden.
What does the speaker say about lovers who carve their names in trees?
The speaker criticizes them for not understanding the true beauty of nature.
What does the speaker say about the gods?
The speaker says that the gods ended their races in trees.
What does the speaker say about the mind?
The speaker says that the mind can create its own realities, transcending the physical world.
What does the speaker say about time?
The speaker suggests that time can be measured by the journey of the sun and the work of the bee.
What does the speaker say about passion?
The speaker suggests that love makes its best retreat in the garden after passion’s heat has run its course.
What does the speaker say about the garden-state?
The speaker suggests that it was a happy state when man walked there without a mate.
What does the speaker say about the skillful gardener?
The speaker admires how the gardener drew a new dial of flowers and herbs.
What does the speaker say about the industrious bee?
The speaker says that the bee computes its time as well as we do.
What does the speaker say about the milder sun?
The speaker says that the sun runs through a fragrant zodiac.
What does the speaker say about ripe apples?
The speaker says that ripe apples drop about his head in the garden.
What does the speaker say about the nectarine and peach?
The speaker says that they reach into his hands in the garden.
What does the speaker say about melons?
The speaker says that he stumbles on melons as he passes in the garden.
What does the speaker say about flowers?
The speaker says that he is ensnared with flowers in the garden.
What does the speaker say about grass?
The speaker says that he falls on grass in the garden.
What does the speaker say about the fountain’s sliding foot?
The speaker says that he casts his body’s vest aside there.
What does the speaker say about the fruit tree’s mossy root?
The speaker says that his soul glides into the boughs there.
What does the speaker say about the bird?
The speaker says that his soul sits and sings like a bird in the boughs.
What does the speaker say about the silver wings?
The speaker says that his soul whets and combs its silver wings.
What does the speaker say about the various light?
The speaker says that his soul waves in its plumes the various light.
Short Answer Questions
What is the significance of the garden in the poem?
The garden in the poem serves as a metaphor for a state of mind that is at peace and in harmony with nature. It symbolizes a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of society where one can find solace and tranquility.
How does Marvell use imagery in the poem?
Marvell uses vivid and detailed imagery to bring the garden to life. He describes ripe apples dropping, the luscious clusters of the vine, the nectarine and curious peach reaching into his hands, and stumbling on melons as he passes. This imagery helps to create a sensory experience for the reader.
What is the speaker’s view of society in the poem?
The speaker views society as rude and prefers the solitude of the garden. He suggests that true happiness and contentment can be found in nature and in one’s own mind, rather than in the pursuit of worldly honors and pleasures.
How does the speaker describe the mind in the poem?
The speaker describes the mind as an ocean where each kind finds its own resemblance. He suggests that the mind has the power to create its own realities, transcending the physical world to create “Far other worlds, and other seas”.
What is the message of the poem?
The message of the poem is that true happiness and contentment can be found in nature and in one’s own mind. The poem suggests that the pursuit of worldly honors and pleasures is futile compared to the peace and fulfillment that can be found in solitude and contemplation.
How does the speaker describe time in the poem?
The speaker describes time as being measured by the journey of the sun and the work of the bee. He suggests that we, like the bee, are bound by the constraints of time, yet we find ways to make our hours “sweet and wholesome”.
What does the speaker say about lovers who carve their names in trees?
The speaker criticizes lovers who carve their names in trees, suggesting that they do not understand the true beauty of nature. He says, “Little, alas, they know or heed, How far these beauties hers exceed!”
What does the speaker say about the gods?
The speaker says that the gods ended their races in trees. He refers to the mythological stories of Apollo and Daphne, and Pan and Syrinx, suggesting that even the gods found solace in nature.
What does the speaker say about the garden-state?
The speaker describes the garden-state as a happy state when man walked there without a mate. He suggests that it was a place so pure and sweet that no other help could yet be meet.
What does the speaker say about the skillful gardener?
The speaker admires the skillful gardener who drew a new dial of flowers and herbs. He suggests that the gardener, like the bee, understands the passage of time and finds ways to make the hours sweet and wholesome.
