Question

Re-examine the following lines of verse from "The Seafarer" then choose the answer which is most true of the passage below: . . . but nothing Golden shakes the wrath of God For a soul overflowing with sin, and nothing Hidden on earth rises to Heaven. 105 We all fear God. He turns the earth, He set it swinging firmly in space, Gave life to the world and light to the sky. Death leaps at the fools who forget their God. He who lives humbly has angels from Heaven 110 To carry him courage and strength and belief. a. these lines refer to Woden or Odin and the all-controlling force of Fate b. these lines could be understood as a second voice within the poem, a more monastic poet voice than pagan seafarer voice c. the lines of this passage continue the theme and message of the first half of the poem without need of any structural and/or unifying argumentation by critics to explain them d. these lines definitively prove the poem was amended from its original form and the second half is composed by a monastic poet

Answer 1

The poetic passage from 'The Seafarer' reflects a Christian perspective on sin and virtue, aligning with monastic teachings rather than pagan beliefs, suggesting a monastic poet's voice as the most true interpretation of the lines. Therefore, the correct option is d).

Step-by-step explanation:

The lines from The Seafarer suggest a monastic or religious interpretation of life's journey and the consequences of one's actions in relation to the divine. The poem seems to portray the belief that worldly possessions or status do not influence God's judgment of souls but rather one's humility and faith. This message aligns with Christian teachings, contrasting with the pagan elements of destiny and deity worship from other texts, and thus could indicate a monastic poet's voice within the poem, differently from a pagan seafarer's perspective. Furthermore, the passage emphasizes the theme of divine wrath towards those who forget their God and suggests that virtue is rewarded with divine assistance, mirroring Christian concepts of sin, repentance, and salvation. Choices 'a' and 'd' can be seen as less accurate, considering the Christian undertone of the lines, while choice 'b' is the most justified interpretation.

Therefore, the correct option is d).