Vocabulary
1. The phrase “idle lingerer” most nearly means:
A. A traveler in a hurry
B. A person who wastes time doing nothing
C. A thoughtful observer
D. A tired worker
B. A person who wastes time doing nothing
What does the line “He gathers up his work and yawns away” suggest?
A. He works very hard
B. He is proud of his work
C. He avoids work and wastes time
D. He finishes all his duties
C. He avoids work and wastes time
The central theme of the poem is:
A. Joy of nature
B. Childhood innocence
C. The emptiness of a life without purpose
D. Critique of Ambition vs. Contentment
D. Critique of Ambition vs. Contentment
he “sands” and “glass” are examples of:
A. Personification
B. Metaphor
C. Simile
D. Symbolism (for time and life)
D. Symbolism (for time and life)
In the line “amid the busy throng,” the word “throng” refers to:
A. Silence
B. A place of rest
C. A large crowd of people
D. A single worker
C. A large crowd of people
The line “The world has marched along” means that:
A. The world has stopped
B. Life continues to progress without him
C. Everyone is confused
D. Nature is changing
B. Life continues to progress without him
The poem challenges
A. the Idler's wasted life
B. The Idler's work ethic
C. The ethos of relentless work and ambition
D. The world's scorn of the Idler
C. The ethos of relentless work and ambition
Which literary device is used in “The world has marched along”?
A. Alliteration
B. Simile
C. Personification
D. Hyperbole
C. Personification
3. The word “infantile” in the poem suggests that the face described is:
A. Mature and wise
B. Angry
C. Childish or immature
D. Confused
C. Childish or immature
What does “pass his long-drawn days away” suggest?
A. His life is exciting
B. His days are short
C. His life is slow and unproductive
D. His life is full of achievements
C. His life is slow and unproductive
The Idler chooses a life of:
A. Ambition and relentless work
B. Hard Work and Sacrifice
C. Hope and Wealth
D. deliberate inactivity and contentment.
D. deliberate inactivity and contentment.
Calling the idler a “poor mothling of that flame” is an example of:
A. Irony
B. Metaphor
C. Repetition
D. Allusion
B. Metaphor
'tiresome load' implies that The Idler finds work
A. boring
B. A pleasure
C. a burden
D. a huge responsibility
C. a burden
The image “Until the sands run down into the glass” refers to:
A. Time passing and life ending
B. Dreams
C. Wealth
D. Nature
A. Time passing and life ending
According to the poet, the busy world views the idler with
A. disdain
B. Pride
C. jealousy
D. hope
A. disdain
The overall tone of the poem can best be described as:
A. Joyful
B. Celebratory
C. Playful
D. Critical and reflective
D. Critical and reflective
In the poem “The Idler,” what does the phrase “desperate deals” most nearly mean?
A. Fair and honest agreements
B. The stress of wants, desires and ambitions of life
C. Poor or harmful choices made when a person is in great difficulty
D. Clever plans for success
B. The stress of wants, desires and ambitions of life
The final question is directed at the
A. Reader
B. Idler
C. Nobody in particular
D. Students
A. Reader
The poem concludes by directly questioning the reader:
A. Do you like the life of the Idler?
B. Are you jealous of the Idler?
C. Are your own frantic striving truly better than the idler’s peaceful life?
D. Is the Idler and the reader facing the same predicament?
C. Are your own frantic striving truly better than the idler’s peaceful life?
The final lines: Are you the better for your desperate deal,
When you, like him, into infinitude are hurled? is an example of:
A. Metaphor
B. Rhetorical Question
C. Personification
D. Imagery
B. Rhetorical Question