Question

Read the excerpt from "One Generation Passeth Away and Another Cometh.”

Vain bird, a while think what am I,
Here entering ‘mid a hawk-like throng;
Quickly hatched out, as quick to fly,
And dare not tarry long.

Where is the mighty and the stout,
Who lived this fading world to crave;
Left and forever gone without
A stone to show their grave.

Used with permission of the Chapel Hill Historical Society

Which universal theme is reflected in the excerpt?

the importance of hope
the desire for honor
the value of learning
the search for meaning

Answer 1

the desire for honor

The poem emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and how those who craved worldly greatness (the mighty and stout) are gone without a monument, underscoring the futility of seeking earthly honor.