In her 1921 poem “Spring,” Edna St. Vincent Millay subverts conventional depictions of springtime. Instead of celebrating growth and renewal, Millay disputes the merit of the season entirely: ______

Question

Which quotation from “Spring” most effectively illustrates the claim?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) “To what purpose, April, do you return again? / Beauty is not enough.”
A
“To what purpose, April, do you return again? / Beauty is not enough.”
(Choice B) The sun is hot on my neck as I observe / The spikes of the crocus.
B
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe / The spikes of the crocus.
(Choice C) The smell of the earth is good. / It is apparent that there is no death.
C
The smell of the earth is good. / It is apparent that there is no death.

Answer 1

The quotation that most effectively illustrates Millay's subversion of conventional depictions of springtime is:

(Choice A) “To what purpose, April, do you return again? / Beauty is not enough.”

This choice clearly conveys her questioning of spring's significance and undermines the traditional celebratory view of the season by suggesting that its beauty does not provide real merit or satisfaction.