Question

Old Ironsides Oliver Wendell Holmes Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! Long has it waved on high, And many an eye has danced to see That banner in the sky; Beneath it rung the battle shout,5 And burst the cannon's roar; -- The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more. Her deck, once red with heroes' blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe,10 When winds were hurrying o'er the flood, And waves were white below, No more shall feel the victor's tread, Or know the conquered knee; -- The harpies of the shore shall pluck15 The eagle of the sea! Oh, better that her shattered hulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave;20 Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail, And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale.

5)
What is this poem about?

A)
a battle in which a ship sinks in a storm


B)
a ship that survives a battle but is lost at sea


C)
a battle in which the American flag is destroyed


D)
a battleship that has reached the end of its career


6)
What is the focus of the third stanza?

A)
The speaker envisions a fitting end for the ship.


B)
The speaker drives away his memories of the ship.


C)
The speaker describes the ship’s last battle.


D)
The speaker remembers the storm that destroyed the ship.


7)
Which of these BEST describes a theme of this poem?

A)
loss of innocence


B)
nature's fury and power


C)
pride in battle and death


D)
romantic love lost in battle

Answer 1

'Old Ironsides' by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a tribute to a heroic battleship, suggesting a dignified end rather than a decayed abandonment. The third stanza focuses on a fitting farewell, and the theme reflects pride in battle and death.

Step-by-step explanation:

'Old Ironsides' by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a poem that centers around a famous American battleship that has seen better days and is now at the end of its service. The speaker in the poem is advocating for a respectful and heroic end to the ship, rather than letting it decay ignominiously. In answer to question 5, the poem is about option (D) - a battleship that has reached the end of its career.

As for question 6, the focus of the third stanza is option (A) - The speaker envisions a fitting end for the ship. The stanza suggests giving the ship to the 'god of storms,' allowing it to meet its end in battle with the elements, rather than being scavenged upon by 'harpies of the shore.'

Addressing question 7, the best description for a theme of this poem is option (C) - pride in battle and death. The poem speaks to the gallantry of the ship and its crew, the honor of its service, and the nobility of having a dignified end, filled with the same courage that defined its history.

Answer 2

5. D) a battleship that has reached the end of its career.

6. A) The speaker envisions a fitting end for the ship.

7. C) pride in battle and death.

Step-by-step explanation:

This poem talks about a ship that has reached the end of its career. The author reflects on everything that the ship has accomplished, and on the future that waits for it. In the third stanza, the speaker envisions the type of end that he would like the ship to have, which is one of celebration and honour. One of the main themes of this poem is the pride that comes from being in battle and from death. The ship is celebrated for the role that it has had in war, and the description is one of glory and pride.