Read the poems “Grown-Up” and “The Unexplorer” by Edna St. Vincent Millay. What theme can be inferred from the details in both texts?

Question

Grown-Up
Was it for this I uttered prayers,
And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,
That now, domestic as a plate,
I should retire at half-past eight?

The Unexplorer
There was a road ran past our house
Too lovely to explore.
I asked my mother once—she said
That if you followed where it led
It brought you to the milk-man’s door.
(That’s why I have not travelled more.)

(1 point)
Responses

Real life is better than idle dreams.
Real life is better than idle dreams.

One should live life to the fullest.
One should live life to the fullest.

Life is full of wonderful surprises.
Life is full of wonderful surprises.

Life never turns out as expected.

Answer 1

The theme that can be inferred from both "Grown-Up" and "The Unexplorer" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is "Life never turns out as expected."

In "Grown-Up," the speaker reflects on the disappointments of adult life, questioning why they went through struggles only to end up in a mundane routine. In "The Unexplorer," the speaker expresses a sense of unfulfilled curiosity and the confinement of domestic life, suggesting that what seemed promising turned out to be less exciting than anticipated. Both poems highlight the contrast between expectations and reality.