Question

Read the poem "The Secret" by Emily Dickinson.

Some things that fly there be,—
Birds, hours, the bumble-bee:
Of these no elegy.

Some things that stay there be,—
Grief, hills, eternity:
Nor this behooveth me.

There are, that resting, rise.
Can I expound the skies?
How still the riddle lies!

What meaning does the end rhyme in the final stanza help convey?

contradiction
dishonesty
excitement
inactivity

Answer 1

The end rhyme in the final stanza of Emily Dickinson's poem "The Secret" contributes to the sense of **inactivity**. The lines “rise” and “skies” create a serene, contemplative atmosphere, suggesting a stillness and mystery rather than action. The idea that "there are, that resting, rise" implies a paradox where entities that seem inactive ("resting") can still have the quality of rising, hinting at deeper truths that remain ambiguous and unresolved. This supports the overall theme of the poem, which engages with complex ideas that cannot be easily articulated, aligning with the notion of inactivity or stillness in the face of profound mysteries.