Question

Read the following poem by William Wadsworth Longfellow and answer the question that follows.

"The Rainy Day"

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Using context clues, determine the meaning of the bolded word from the poem.

beautifully ornate
slowly decaying
promising
thrivingRead the following poem by William Wadsworth Longfellow and answer the question that follows.

"The Rainy Day"

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Using context clues, determine the meaning of the bolded word from the poem.

beautifully ornate
slowly decaying
promising
thriving

Answer 1

The bolded word 'mouldering' in the poem signifies 'slowly decaying,' reflecting the theme of decay and the passing of time in the melancholic poem. The correct answer is option 2.

Step-by-step explanation:

Using context clues from the poem "The Rainy Day" by William Wadsworth Longfellow, the bolded word mouldering is best understood to mean slowly decaying. The word is used to describe a wall and the past, both of which are associated with decay and deterioration over time. This interpretation aligns with the melancholic tone and theme of the poem, which speaks to the transience and sadness of life, using the rain and dreariness as metaphors for life's struggles.