Multiple Choice Questions for Poem #1

The Adamantine Perfection of Desireby Jane Hirshfield

1 Nothing more strong
   than to be helpless before desire.

   No reason,
   the simplified heart whispers,
5 the argument over,
   only This.

   No longer choosing anything but assent.

   Its bowl scraped clean to the bottom,
   the skull-bone cup no longer horrifies,
10 but, rimmed in silver, shines.

   A spotted dog follows a bitch in heat.
   Gray geese flying past us, crying.
   The living cannot help but love the world.

1.      The author most likely believes that desire is:

a.       Insufferable

Not correct, because of the line. " The living cannot help but love the world" (13).

b.      Admirable

Not correct, because the tone is not of admiration, it is darker.

c.       Impeccable

Not correct, because the tone complains about desire, it does not build it up.

d.      Unavoidable

Correct, because of the line, "The living cannot help but love the world" (13).

e.       Painful

Not correct, because the author never even mentions pain.

2.      Lines 3-6 serve to:

a.       Explain that nothing can defeat desire

Not correct, because the text is vague, no explanation.

b.      Tell the reader to try to listen to their heart

Not correct, because the author is saying the opposite, to give up.

c.       Say that the heart is too weak to fight desire

Not correct, because that isn't the main point.

d.      Emphasize that reasoning is the only option

Not correct, because the text says, "No reason" (3).

e.       Prove that desire always wins

Correct, because the text says nothing can defeat desire.

3.      In the line, “ . . .the skull-bone cup no longer horrifies,” (line 9) the cup most likely represents:

a.       Death

Not correct, because death is talked about nowhere else.

b.      Goals

Not correct, because the tone is negative so goals wouldn't even make sense.

c.       Desire

Correct, because of the invisible subject. The subject is implied.

d.      Nightmares

Not correct, because the text isn't about sleep or dreams.

e.       Fantasies

Not correct, because the text has a negative tone, not optimistic.

4.      The separation of stanzas and usage of punctuation in this poem serves best to:

a.       Make the reader stop and think about what is happening

Not correct, because that isn't a strong influence on the poem.

b.      Create pauses in the reading

Not correct, because the poem actually has a constant pace.

c.       Separate thoughts

Not correct, because it isn't the most important.

d.      Lead to a conclusion

Correct, because it keeps the reader reading and builds on itself.

e.       Keep a constant pace

Not correct, because it isn't the most important reason for the punctuation.

5.      The purpose of this poem is to:

a.       Allow the author to express her feelings about desire

Not correct, because she doesn't write in a diary tone.

b.      Persuade the reader to give up all hope and submit to desire

Not correct, because the author isn't telling the reader to do anything.

c.       Inform the reader that desire conquers all

Not correct, because the poem isn't informative.

d.      Show the reader that desire is self-inflicted

Correct, because of the line, "The living cannot help but love the world" (13).

e.       Question the actions of society

Not correct, because there are no questions in the poem.