Read the excerpt from Chapter 41 of Moby-Dick, by Herman Melville.

Question

All that most maddens and torments; all that stirs up the lees of things; all truth with malice in it; all that cracks the sinews and cakes the brain; all the subtle demonisms of life and thought; all evil, to crazy Ahab, were visibly personified, and made practically assailable in Moby Dick.
Which of the following statements best describes the effect of narration on the story?
The narration reflects the violent aftermath of Moby Dick’s attack.
The narration reflects the characteristics of physical illness.
The narration suggests Ahab’s spiritual belief about his injury.
The narration suggests Ahab’s singular hatred of Moby Dick.

Answer 1

The statement that best describes the effect of narration on the story is: The narration suggests Ahab’s singular hatred of Moby Dick.

This excerpt highlights Ahab's intense and all-consuming obsession with Moby Dick, viewing the whale not just as a creature, but as the embodiment of all that torments him. His hatred is deeply connected to his sense of injury and the metaphysical battle he perceives between himself and the whale, which he sees as personifying all that is evil and maddening in his life.

Answer 2

Read the excerpt from "Dreams," by Edgar Allan Poe.

Dreams! in their vivid coloring of life,
As in that fleeting, shadowy, misty strife
Of semblance with reality, which brings
To the delirious eye, more lovely things

How does the rhythm of the excerpt support the theme of the poem?
The rhythm is consistent, and Poe celebrates the consistent relief of his dreams.
The rhythm is continuous, and Poe celebrates the continuous cycle of life.
The rhythm is sporadic, and Poe bemoans the brevity of his dreams.
The rhythm is unpredictable, and Poe bemoans his inability to conjure dreams.

Answer 3

The best choice that describes how the rhythm of the excerpt supports the theme of the poem is: The rhythm is sporadic, and Poe bemoans the brevity of his dreams.

The phrasing of the lines creates a sense of fleetingness and instability, reflecting the transient nature of dreams and the ephemeral experience of their vividness. Poe's use of language suggests a longing for the richness of dreams, highlighting their brief and elusive quality, which aligns with a sense of lamentation regarding their impermanence.

Answer 4

How are Poe’s ideas of daytime similar in the final stanzas of "Dreams" and "A Dream"?
Both poems suggest that daytime offers the possibility for love.
Both poems insist that nature’s strength is overwhelming during the day.
Both poems indicate that daytime is the preferred time to dream.
Both poems suggest that daytime realities are inferior to dreams.

Answer 5

The statement that best reflects the similarity between Poe's ideas of daytime in the final stanzas of "Dreams" and "A Dream" is: Both poems suggest that daytime realities are inferior to dreams.

In both poems, Poe contrasts the vivid, imaginative experiences of dreams with the mundane or harsh realities of daytime, highlighting a sense of longing for the dream state, which he perceives as more beautiful and fulfilling than the waking world. This theme underscores a consistent notion that the limitations of reality pale in comparison to the richness of dreams.

Answer 6

How are Poe’s ideas of dreams similar in "Dreams" and "A Dream"?
Both poems criticize people who daydream and ignore reality.
Both poems recall the carefree dreams of youth.
Both poems celebrate the escape that dreams offer.
Both poems suggest that dreams can’t compare to nature.

Answer 7

The statement that best captures the similarity between Poe’s ideas of dreams in "Dreams" and "A Dream" is: Both poems celebrate the escape that dreams offer.

In both poems, Poe emphasizes the ability of dreams to provide a refuge from the challenges and limitations of reality, suggesting that dreams allow for an imaginative and transcendent experience that contrasts with the more mundane aspects of everyday life. This theme of escape is central to both works, illustrating the allure and freedom that dreams represent.

Answer 8

Read the excerpt from "Dreams," by Edgar Allan Poe.

For I have revell'd, when the sun was bright
I' the summer sky, in dreams of living light
And loveliness,- have left my very heart
In climes of my imagining, apart
How does Poe use a sound device in the excerpt?
He uses assonance to add fluidity to his unrhymed verse.
He uses alliteration to emphasize the happiness of his recollections.
He uses consonance to add harsh emotion to his youthful memories.
He creates a cacophony of sounds to bring his dreams to life.

Answer 9

The statement that best describes how Poe uses a sound device in the excerpt is: He uses alliteration to emphasize the happiness of his recollections.

In this excerpt, Poe employs alliteration with phrases like "revell'd" and "bright" as well as "living light" and "loveliness," which creates a rhythmic, melodious quality that enhances the positive emotions associated with his dreamy recollections. This sound device helps to convey a sense of joy and beauty in his memories, underscoring the celebratory feeling of his dreams.