Question

2 Questions, Please Help: Irony by Amy Lowell

“Irony” by Amy Lowell
An arid daylight shines along the beach
Dried to a grey monotony of tone,
And stranded jelly-fish melt soft upon
The sun-baked pebbles, far beyond their reach
Sparkles a wet, reviving sea. Here bleach
The skeletons of fishes, every bone
Polished and stark, like traceries of stone,
The joints and knuckles hardened each to each.
And they are dead while waiting for the sea,
The moon-pursuing sea, to come again.
Their hearts are blown away on the hot breeze.
Only the shells and stones can wait to be
Washed bright. For living things, who suffer pain,
May not endure till time can bring them ease.

1.) The voice in this poem is best described as
A.) descriptive and measured (I think it is A)
B.) unconventional and eccentric
C.) lyric and rustic
D.) blunt and harsh
E.) casual and intimate

2.) What is the main irony of this poem?
A.) the melancholy tone of the speaker
B.) the understatement "May not endure till time can bring them ease" (is it B?)
C.) the contrast between the dead creatures and the "reviving" sea
D.) the imagery of skeletons and decomposition
E.) the juxtaposition of the words arid and daylight

Answer 1

1.) The voice in this poem is best described as:

Answer: c.) Lyric and rustic.

Explanation: The author is using elements of lyric and rustic poetry. Its lyric elements consists on it being short and full of imagery. It has a strong emotional component in the usage of the language for its purpose is to express irony. It also has a song-like structure to it when read. The rustic elements of this poem, correspond to the theme of the sea, nature, and the outdoors used to express the authors emotions.

2.) What is the main irony of this poem?

Answer: c.) The contrast between the dead creatures and the "reviving" sea.

Explanation: In each verse the author uses adjective and descriptions that contrast the dead with the alive. She uses words to describe opposition of dead fauna and a strong sea that comes and goes with liberty. Questioning from her point of view the accuracy of synchronicity of "time bringing them ease".

Answer 2

1. (A) Descriptive and measured

2. (B) The understatement "May not endure till time can bring them ease."

Step-by-step explanation:

1. We can see that this is the main characteristic of the poem from his words, which are detailed, describing imagery of dead fishes, beaches, and moonlighted seas. It is measured since all of these lines are stated in a similar style, creating the same tone across the poem.

2. Despite several juxtapositions described in the poem - such as the dead fishes waiting for the sea - the main point of the irony should be the last two lines, since the imagery used is supposed to illustrate this main point; that the only thing that can heal pain is time.