Question

Read these stanzas from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poems.

"The Seedling"

"The Old Apple Tree"

Little folks, be like the seedling,
Always do the best you can;
Every child must share life's labor
Just as well as every man.

And the sun and showers will help you
Through the lonesome, struggling hours,
Till you raise to light and beauty
Virtue's fair, unfading flowers





Life for us ain't all been summer,
But I guess we've had our share
Of its flittin' joys an' pleasures,
An' a sprinklin' of its care.
Oft the skies have smiled upon us;
Then again we've seen 'em frown,
Though our load was ne'er so heavy
That we longed to lay it down.
But when death does come a-callin',
This my last request shall be,—
That they'll bury me an' Hallie
'Neath the old apple-tree.

How are the messages of these two poems similar?



Both poems encourage the planting of gardens.
Both poems suggest that childhood is precious.
Both poems insist that people can find satisfaction in life.
Both poems show the reliability of the changing seasons.

Answer 1

Both insist that people can find satisfaction in life.

Explanation: "The Seedling" urges doing your best and trusting sun and showers to help you grow virtue and beauty. "The Old Apple Tree" recounts joys and cares but ends with a peaceful, satisfied wish to be buried beneath the apple tree. The other choices (planting gardens, childhood being precious, or simply showing seasonal change) are less central to both poems' shared message.