Question
from Languages
There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance.
It is a river, this language. Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course Changing its way to the ocean.
It is mountain effluvia Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing. Languages die like rivers. 1
10
Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought Between your teeth and lips speaking Now and today
15
2 Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now.
What is a theme of the poem/
1. All languages will disappear over time.
2. Languages bring people closer together.
3. Languages allow people to express ideas.
4. All languages must adjust to cultural change.
Part B
Select two excerpts from the poem that best support the correct answer from Part A.
1. There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance." (Lines 1-3)
2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6)
3. "Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing." (Lines 9-11)
4. "Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought" (Lines 13-14)
5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18)
There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance.
It is a river, this language. Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course Changing its way to the ocean.
It is mountain effluvia Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing. Languages die like rivers. 1
10
Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought Between your teeth and lips speaking Now and today
15
2 Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now.
What is a theme of the poem/
1. All languages will disappear over time.
2. Languages bring people closer together.
3. Languages allow people to express ideas.
4. All languages must adjust to cultural change.
Part B
Select two excerpts from the poem that best support the correct answer from Part A.
1. There are no handles upon a language Whereby men take hold of it And mark it with signs for its remembrance." (Lines 1-3)
2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6)
3. "Moving to valleys And from nation to nation Crossing borders and mixing." (Lines 9-11)
4. "Words wrapped round your tongue today And broken to shape of thought" (Lines 13-14)
5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The theme of the poem is best captured by the statement:
**1. All languages will disappear over time.**
This theme is supported by the following two excerpts:
**5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18)** - This line directly indicates that the language we use today will eventually become obsolete and may be forgotten entirely over time.
**2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6)** - This excerpt suggests that the nature of language is constantly evolving and changing, reinforcing the idea that languages are not permanent and will eventually change or disappear.
**1. All languages will disappear over time.**
This theme is supported by the following two excerpts:
**5. "Shall be faded hieroglyphics Ten thousand years from now." (Lines 17-18)** - This line directly indicates that the language we use today will eventually become obsolete and may be forgotten entirely over time.
**2. "Once in a thousand years Breaking a new course" (Lines 5-6)** - This excerpt suggests that the nature of language is constantly evolving and changing, reinforcing the idea that languages are not permanent and will eventually change or disappear.