Question
A Dream Within a Dream
by Edgar Allan Poe
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf–tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand—
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep—while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
–Public Domain
Multiple Choice Question
Read the following lines from the poem.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
What is the significance of the phrase surf-tormented as it is used in the poem?
A.
Surf-tormented is a metaphor for the distress the poet feels toward the progression of time.
B.
Surf-tormented describes how the poet's environment affects his emotions.
C.
Surf-tormented describes the feeling of rage the poet feels at the loss of his youth.
D.
Surf-tormented is a metaphor for the punishment the poet suffered at the hands of his lost love.
by Edgar Allan Poe
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf–tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand—
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep—while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
–Public Domain
Multiple Choice Question
Read the following lines from the poem.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
What is the significance of the phrase surf-tormented as it is used in the poem?
A.
Surf-tormented is a metaphor for the distress the poet feels toward the progression of time.
B.
Surf-tormented describes how the poet's environment affects his emotions.
C.
Surf-tormented describes the feeling of rage the poet feels at the loss of his youth.
D.
Surf-tormented is a metaphor for the punishment the poet suffered at the hands of his lost love.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The significance of the phrase "surf-tormented" in the poem conveys a sense of turmoil and distress, reflecting the emotional state of the poet. Therefore, the most appropriate answer is:
**B. Surf-tormented describes how the poet's environment affects his emotions.**
This choice highlights the connection between the chaotic imagery of the surf and the poet's feelings of despair and helplessness, emphasizing how external conditions mirror inner turmoil.
**B. Surf-tormented describes how the poet's environment affects his emotions.**
This choice highlights the connection between the chaotic imagery of the surf and the poet's feelings of despair and helplessness, emphasizing how external conditions mirror inner turmoil.