Question

Read the poem "Grass" and answer the question that follows.

Pile the bodies high at Austerlitz and Waterloo.
Shovel them under and let me work—
I am the grass; I cover all.

And pile them high at Gettysburg
And pile them high at Ypres and Verdun.
Shovel them under and let me work.
Two years, ten years, and passengers ask the conductor:
What place is this?
Where are we now?

I am the grass.
Let me work.

What is the significance of the phrase "Two years, ten years" in line 7?

The phrase describes the intervals between the wars.
The phrase stresses that grass needs time to do its work.
The phrase suggests that people quickly forget the past.
The phrase implies that time helps people heal their emotional wounds.

Answer 1

C) The phrase suggests that people quickly forget the past.

Step-by-step explanation:

The significance of the phrase "Two years, ten years" in line 7 is that it suggests that people quickly forget the past. The phrase implies that even after a relatively short period of time has passed, people no longer remember or recognize the places where great battles were fought. This is symbolized by the passengers on the train who ask the conductor "what place is this?" and "where are we now?" This suggests that the memories of these events are quickly forgotten, and that the dead are soon buried and forgotten beneath the grass. This is further emphasized by the use of repetition throughout the poem, which underscores the way in which history repeats itself over time.

Answer 2

The phrase suggests that people quickly forget the past.

Step-by-step explanation:

We can immediately strike out "The phrase stresses that grass needs time to do its work." since it is clear that there is a deeper meaning to the poem. We can strike out "The phrase implies that time helps people heal their emotional wounds. " under the explaination that there is no emotional aspect to the poem. It is from the grass's POV. There have been no emotional connections said outright to allow us to draw this conclusion. Finally, we can strike "The phrase describes the intervals between the wars. " Although places such as Austerlitz, Waterloo, Gettysburg, Ypres, and Verdun are mentioned, it doesn't seem as though this is what the poem is mainly about. It is about how the grass is working for years and years. It can be assumed that as many people forget about grass, people can quickly forget the past.