Question

How does the theme of "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" develop as the poem moves forward?

A. The poem starts with an indication of inevitability and ends on a note of transcendence.

B. The poem begins by suggesting that humans live in harmony with nature, then contradicts itself by the end.

C. The poem’s overall theme changes from one that indicates an awe of nature to one that conveys a fear of it.

D. The natural imagery is developed throughout to indicate that nature continues long after humans do.

Answer 1

D). The natural imagery is developed throughout to indicate that nature continues long after humans do.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poem "The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow portrays the dark reality(relating to mortality) of human life. He uses the rise and fall of tides to symbolize the eternity of nature in contrast to the defined journey of humans. The theme of the poem develops throughout the poem with the natural imagery indicating the never-ending(eternal) existence of nature on earth which is contrary to the mortal and finite journey of human beings. Thus, option D correctly displays the exploration of the theme throughout the poem.

Answer 2

Correct answer is D.

Step-by-step explanation:

Henry Wordsworth Longfellow ( 1807-1882) wrote this poem to represent the circle of life, and also the eternity of the nature. He wrote this poem very close to his death in 1879. The death and birth are part of the life circle and they represented by the words “rises and falls”. Longfellow always compares the limit time of the human life with the eternity of the nature.