Question
Poetry Analysis Assessment: "Yet Do I Marvel" by Countee Cullen
I doubt not God is good, well-meaning, kind,
And did He stoop to quibble could tell why
The little buried mole continues blind,
Why flesh that mirrors Him must someday die,
Make plain the reason tortured Tantalus
Is baited by the fickle fruit, declare
If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus
To struggle up a never-ending stair.
Inscrutable His ways are, and immune
To catechism by a mind too strewn
With petty cares to slightly understand
What awful brain compels His awful hand.
Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:
To make a poet black, and bid him sing!
Highlight the correct response.
1. What is the main theme of this poem?
A. The relationship between faith and questioning
B. The beauty of nature
C. The power of music
D. The importance of education
2. The speaker's attitude toward God in the poem can best be described as:
A. Angry and rebellious
B. Questioning yet respectful
C. Completely doubtful
D. Entirely faithful
3. What mythological figure is mentioned who is eternally pushing a boulder uphill?
A. Prometheus
B. Zeus
C. Sisyphus
D. Apollo
4. The line "What awful brain compels His awful hand" suggests:
A. God is terrible
B. God's decisions are powerful and awe-inspiring
C. The speaker hates God's choices
D. God makes mistakes
5. Which mythological figure is described as being "baited by the fickle fruit"?
A. Tantalus
B. Sisyphus
C. Prometheus
D. Atlas
6. What does the speaker "marvel" at most?
A. God's creation of nature
B. The existence of suffering
C. The creation of a Black poet
D. The power of prayer
7. The structure of the poem is:
A. A free verse poem
B. A sonnet
C. A limerick
D. A haiku
8. The word "inscrutable" in the poem means:
A. Impossible to understand
B. Easy to comprehend
C. Beautiful to observe
D. Painful to accept
9. What creature is mentioned as being "blind" in the poem?
A. A bird
B. A mole
C. A fish
D. A worm
10. The phrase "flesh that mirrors Him" refers to:
A. Animals
B. Humans
C. Plants
D. Angels
11. The poem's final line focuses on:
A. Nature's beauty
B. Religious doctrine
C. Racial identity and artistic creation
D. Greek mythology
12. The word "stoop" in the second line suggests that:
A. God is physically bent over
B. God would be lowering Himself to explain
C. God is tired
D. God is weak
I doubt not God is good, well-meaning, kind,
And did He stoop to quibble could tell why
The little buried mole continues blind,
Why flesh that mirrors Him must someday die,
Make plain the reason tortured Tantalus
Is baited by the fickle fruit, declare
If merely brute caprice dooms Sisyphus
To struggle up a never-ending stair.
Inscrutable His ways are, and immune
To catechism by a mind too strewn
With petty cares to slightly understand
What awful brain compels His awful hand.
Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:
To make a poet black, and bid him sing!
Highlight the correct response.
1. What is the main theme of this poem?
A. The relationship between faith and questioning
B. The beauty of nature
C. The power of music
D. The importance of education
2. The speaker's attitude toward God in the poem can best be described as:
A. Angry and rebellious
B. Questioning yet respectful
C. Completely doubtful
D. Entirely faithful
3. What mythological figure is mentioned who is eternally pushing a boulder uphill?
A. Prometheus
B. Zeus
C. Sisyphus
D. Apollo
4. The line "What awful brain compels His awful hand" suggests:
A. God is terrible
B. God's decisions are powerful and awe-inspiring
C. The speaker hates God's choices
D. God makes mistakes
5. Which mythological figure is described as being "baited by the fickle fruit"?
A. Tantalus
B. Sisyphus
C. Prometheus
D. Atlas
6. What does the speaker "marvel" at most?
A. God's creation of nature
B. The existence of suffering
C. The creation of a Black poet
D. The power of prayer
7. The structure of the poem is:
A. A free verse poem
B. A sonnet
C. A limerick
D. A haiku
8. The word "inscrutable" in the poem means:
A. Impossible to understand
B. Easy to comprehend
C. Beautiful to observe
D. Painful to accept
9. What creature is mentioned as being "blind" in the poem?
A. A bird
B. A mole
C. A fish
D. A worm
10. The phrase "flesh that mirrors Him" refers to:
A. Animals
B. Humans
C. Plants
D. Angels
11. The poem's final line focuses on:
A. Nature's beauty
B. Religious doctrine
C. Racial identity and artistic creation
D. Greek mythology
12. The word "stoop" in the second line suggests that:
A. God is physically bent over
B. God would be lowering Himself to explain
C. God is tired
D. God is weak
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the highlighted correct responses to the Poetry Analysis Assessment for "Yet Do I Marvel" by Countee Cullen:
1. A. The relationship between faith and questioning
2. B. Questioning yet respectful
3. C. Sisyphus
4. B. God's decisions are powerful and awe-inspiring
5. A. Tantalus
6. C. The creation of a Black poet
7. B. A sonnet
8. A. Impossible to understand
9. B. A mole
10. B. Humans
11. C. Racial identity and artistic creation
12. B. God would be lowering Himself to explain
These answers reflect the themes, structure, and nuances present in Cullen's poem.
1. A. The relationship between faith and questioning
2. B. Questioning yet respectful
3. C. Sisyphus
4. B. God's decisions are powerful and awe-inspiring
5. A. Tantalus
6. C. The creation of a Black poet
7. B. A sonnet
8. A. Impossible to understand
9. B. A mole
10. B. Humans
11. C. Racial identity and artistic creation
12. B. God would be lowering Himself to explain
These answers reflect the themes, structure, and nuances present in Cullen's poem.