Grade 11 Poem

Memory

Part 1

I nursed it in my bosom while it lived,

I hid it in my heart when it was dead;
In joy I sat alone, even so I grieved
Alone and nothing said.

I shut the door to face the naked truth,

I stood alone,--I faced the truth alone,
Stripped bare of self-regard or forms or ruth
Till first and last were shown.

I took the perfect balances and weighed;

No shaking of my hand disturbed the poise;
Weighed, found it wanting: not a word I said,
But silent made my choice.

None know the choice I made; I make it still.

None know the choice I made and broke my heart,
Breaking mine idol: I have braced my will
Once, chosen for once my part.

I broke it at a blow, I laid it cold,

Crushed in my deep heart where it used to live.
My heart dies inch by inch; the time grows old,
Grows old in which I grieve.

Part 2

I have a room whereinto no one enters

Save I myself alone:
There sits a blessed memory on a throne,
There my life centres.

While winter comes and goes--O tedious comer!--

And while its nip-wind blows;
While bloom the bloodless lily and warm rose
Of lavish summer.

If any should force entrance he might see there

 One buried yet not dead,
Before whose face I no more bow my head
Or bend my knee there;

But often in my worn life's autumn weather

I watch there with clear eyes,
And think how it will be in Paradise
When we're together.

Answer the following questions

1. What is the poet giving up in the first stanza

a) Pain
b) Love
c) Bossom
d) Heart

2. What sentiment is this poem taking?

a) Personal
b) Group
c) Crowd
d) Couple

3. Which word repeated in the first stanza explains lonesomeness?

a) Grieved
b) Dead
c) Alone
d) Nursed

4. Which statement does not portray depression and loneliness.

a) Not a word I said
b) I stood alone
c) Stripped bare of self- regards
d) I shut the door
5. Which word in the poem takes an incredibly personal feel?
a) I
b) My hand
c) My choice
d) My will

6. The double repetition of “None know the choice” compounds which

sense?
a) Cooperation
b) Isolation
c) Breaking my hand
d) Close the door

7. In stanza the words ‘broke’, ‘blow,” “crushed” and “laid it” are violent
words which are showing her moment of …….
a) Love
b) Rejection
c) Loving
d) Explosive

8. Which statement shows that she is depressing on the idea that she will
grow old without love.
a) Crushed in my deep heart.
b) Once close for once my part.
c) Grows old in which I grieve.
d) My heart dies inch by inch; the time grows old.

9. What are the two moods of the part 1 and part 2 of the poem.
a) Rejection and hope
b) Rejection and pain
c) Hope and love
d) Hope and excitement
10.What is the purpose of the tiny place within the poet that she has
created?
a) Love
b) Memory
c) Throne
d) Centre

11.How many times did the poet reject love proposals?

a) Twice
b) Four times
c) Five times
d) Three times

12. What does the following phrases illustrate “winter comes and
goes” ,”lavish summer”?
a) Love was cold
b) Love was hot
c) Love has no season
d) Love lives on

13.What did the poet chose in place of love?

a) Faith
b) A room
c) Winter
d) Rejection

14.In stanza 8 the poet says, ‘one buried yet not dead’ what is she referring
to?
a) To the bossom
b) To the naked truth
c) To the feelings of her now lost love
d) To the poem

15.Which phrase in the second part of the poem indicates a sense of

contentment?
a) I have a room where into no one enters.
b) While winter comes and goes
c) I no more bow my head.
d) One buried yet not dead.

16.What does Autumn season represent literary?

a) Coldness
b) Death and decay
c) Heat
d) New season

17.In the poem what word represents Autumn, in stanza 9?

a) Clear
b) Worn
c) Paradise
d) Autumn

18.Where is the poet expecting to see her lost lover?

a) In Autumn
b) In Paradise
c) In her secret room
d) In the next poem