Question

A poet could not but be gay,In such a jocund company,I gazed-and gazed—but little thoughtWhat wealth the show to me had brought. Whose "jocund company" is the poet referring to?

A) The poet's own company
B) A group of children
C) Nature and the surroundings
D) A group of serious individuals

Answer 1

The 'jocund company' in the poem is Nature and the surroundings, specifically a host of daffodils. The poet is uplifted by the flowers' cheerful presence, which is described in William Wordsworth's 'I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud'. The correct answer is option C.

Step-by-step explanation:

The jocund company referred to in the poem is C: Nature and the surroundings. The poem in question describes a scene where the poet is uplifted by the carefree and joyful display of a host of daffodils, which are part of the natural landscape. This excerpt is from William Wordsworth's famous poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud", which vividly captures the poet's sense of joy and contentment upon encountering these flowers in nature.

Words like 'waves' and 'daffodils' indicate that the company making the poet 'gay' is neither human nor serious individuals but rather the vibrant and cheerful parts of nature he observes. Therefore, the correct option is C, Nature and the surroundings, which brought an unexpected wealth of pleasure and emotional richness to the poet.