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George Gray

Edgar Lee Masters

I have studied many times
The marble which was chiseled for me--
A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
In truth it pictures not my destination
But my life. 5

For love was offered me and I shrank from its disillusionment;
Sorrow knocked at my door, but I was afraid;
Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances.
Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.
And now I know that we must lift the sail 10

And catch the winds of destiny
Wherever they drive the boat.
To put meaning in one's life may end in madness,
But life without meaning is the torture
Of restlessness and vague desire-- 15
It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.
Question
Which line in the poem suggests that finding meaning in one's life can be very dangerous?
Responses
A "A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.""A boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor."
B "To put meaning in one's life may end in madness...""To put meaning in one's life may end in madness..."
C "Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life.""Yet all the while I hungered for meaning in my life."
D "We must lift the sail..."

11 answers

B "To put meaning in one's life may end in madness..."
"A boat with a furled sail" is one that —
Responses
A has lost its sail.has lost its sail.
B has a damaged sail.has a damaged sail.
C has dropped its sail.has dropped its sail.
D has its sail folded up.
D has its sail folded up.
According to the speaker, what is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid?
Responses
A a life without lovea life without love
B a life without meaninga life without meaning
C a sailor without a purposea sailor without a purpose
D a poet struggling to write
A a life without love
What inference can you make from the last four lines of the poem?
Responses
A The speaker is no longer concerned about his future.The speaker is no longer concerned about his future.
B The speaker was a fisherman for years and regrets this occupation choice.The speaker was a fisherman for years and regrets this occupation choice.
C The speaker has struggled with madness and restlessness and wants to end his life.The speaker has struggled with madness and restlessness and wants to end his life.
D The speaker prefers to risk madness rather than endure the torture of a meaningless life.
D The speaker prefers to risk madness rather than endure the torture of a meaningless life.
According to the speaker, "a life without meaning" is —
Responses
A like a boat in a storm.like a boat in a storm.
B a boat that is afraid to set sail.a boat that is afraid to set sail.
C like a sail without wind or purpose.like a sail without wind or purpose.
D a boat that is destined for destruction.
C like a sail without wind or purpose.
What tone does the second stanza of the poem convey?
Responses
A cheerfulcheerful
B hopefulhopeful
C pessimisticpessimistic
D philosophical
D philosophical