Read the following poem carefully before you choose your answer.
The following poem is addressed to a friend of the speaker.
Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now;
Now, while the world is bent my deeds to cross,
Join with the spite of fortune, make me bow,
And do not drop in for an after-loss:
(5) Ah, do not, when my heart has 'scaped this sorrow,
Come in the rearward of a conquered woe;
Give not a windy night a rainy morrow,
To linger out a purposed overthrow.
If thou wilt leave me, do not leave me last,
(10) When other petty griefs have done their spite;
But in the onset come, so shall I taste
At first the very worst of fortune's might;
And other strains of woe, which now seem woe,
Compared with loss of thee, will not seem so.
(1609)
1. The "world and fortune" in lines 2 and 3 are characterized as
a. advantageous to the situation
b. antagonistic to the speaker this CORRECT!
c. beneficial to the speaker
d. immaterial to the speaker
e. irrelevant to the situation
2. Which lines serve as the couplet in the poem?
a. Lines 1 and 2
b. Lines 3 and 4
c. Lines 5 and 6
d. Lines 11 and 12
e. Lines 13 and 14 CORRECT!
3. Which of the following best describes the relationship between lines 2 and 9 ("Now, while the world…" and "If thou wilt leave me…")?
a. Line 9 contradicts the accusation made earlier in line 2.
b. Line 9 describes the reasons for the entreaty made in line 2.
c. Line 9 expands on the feelings and emotions expressed in line 2.
d. Line 9 provides concrete evidence for the claim made in line 2.
e. Line 9 reiterates the idea that was expressed in line 2. CORRECT!
4. Which of the following best describes the poem's meter?
a. Five unstressed/stressed syllable pairs CORRECT!
b. Four unstressed/stressed syllable pairs
c. Seven unstressed/stressed syllable pairs
d. Three unstressed/stressed syllable pairs
e. Two unstressed/stressed syllable pairs
5. The "worst of fortune's might" (line 12) refers to the
a. recipient's anguish
b. recipient's desertion CORRECT!
c. speaker's anger
d. speaker's insecurity
e. speaker's poverty
6. The interjection of the phrase "if ever" in the first line ("Then hate me when thou wilt; if ever, now;") emphasizes the speaker's ultimate desire
a. that the recipient always be faithful to him CORRECT!
b. that the recipient try to improve their relationship
c. to prove himself worthy of this relationship
d. to respect the recipient's right to end the relationship
e. to rise to the recipient's high expectations
7. The poem as a whole is best described as
a. an argument
b. a clarification
c. an explanation
d. a plea CORRECT!
e. a reprimand
8. Which of the following best reflects the rhyme scheme of the poem?
a. AABB CCDD EEFF GG
b. ABAB BCBC CDCD GG
c. ABAB CDCD EFEF GG CORRECT!
d. ABBA CDDC EFFE GG
e. ABCB CBDB DEBE GG
9. The poem's lines are best described as
a. end-stopped because they conclude where the line makes CORRECT!
b. end-stopped because they push the reader to the next line
c. enjambed because they each end with a punctuation mark
d. enjambed because they each conclude at the end of the sentence
e. enjambed because they encourage the reader to pause
10. Which of the following best describes the function of the poem's couplet?
a. It challenges the notion that the relationship will end.
b. It discounts the speaker's concerns with a hint of possible change.
c. It introduces an explanation for the speaker's strong feelings.
d. It remarks on the recipient's sudden and unexpected change of heart.
e. It summarizes why the relationship should be dissolved now. CORRECT!