Question

PART A: In line 7 of “This World," what does the phrase "bore into” mean?

a) dig a hole in
b) intensely stare at
c) quickly break apart
d) build small nests in

Answer 1

In line 7 of "This World", the phrase "bore into" means:

a) dig a hole in

Step-by-step explanation:

"This World" is a poem by American author Mary Oliver in which the speaker shows admiration for everything around her. She says she would like to write about "a world that / has in it / nothing fancy," but that seems to be impossible. Every little detail is filled with wonder, with beauty.

In line 7, the speaker says, "The ants bore into the peony bud and there is a / dark / pinprick well of sweetness." Although not very common, the verb "to bore" means "to dig or cut a hole". The speaker sees beauty even in the holes the ants cut open in the flowers.