AP LIT 2012 "Remembrance" Multiple Choice
Read the following poem carefully before you choose your answers. Cold in the earth—and the deep snow piled above thee, Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave! Have I forgot, my only Love, to love thee, Severed at last by Time's all-severing wave? Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover Over the mountains, on that northern shore, Resting their wings where heath and fern-leaves cover Thy noble heart forever, ever more? Cold in the earth—and fifteen wild Decembers, From those brown hills, have melted into spring: Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers After such years of change and suffering! Sweet Love of youth, forgive, if I forget thee, While the world's tide is bearing me along; Other desires and other hopes beset me, Hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong! No later light has lightened up my heaven, No second morn has ever shone for me; All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given, All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee. But, when the days of golden dreams had perished, And even Despair was powerless to destroy, Then did I learn how existence could be cherished, Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy. Then did I check the tears of useless passion— Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine; Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten Down to that tomb already more than mine. And, even yet, I dare not let it languish, Dare not indulge in memory's rapturous pain; Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish, How could I seek the empty world again?
1
The poem deals with all of the following EXCEPT the
aftermath of a terrible loss
discipline required to address grief
power of time to alter grief
emotions experienced as grief abates
happiness that follows after grief has passed
2
The second stanza (lines 5-8) primarily serve to
dramatize the power of thoughts to sustain romantic feelings in the speaker
indicate how loneliness causes the speaker to dwell on the past
ponder the current connection between the speaker and the loved one
communicate the speaker's ongoing devotion to a treasured childhood memory
compare the loved one to a bird that has departed for northern latitudes
3
Which best describes the speaker's implication in lines 11-12?
Only someone remarkably devoted can retain the memory of an absent loved one over time.
Only people who embrace a higher faith can successfully live with their grief.
Pain strengthens the soul so that the sufferer can move forward.
The bereaved must choose to forget the past in order to bear their losses.
People who dwell on the past are usually unable to move beyond their personal losses.
4
In the fourth stanza (lines 13-16), the speaker's explanation is best described as one of
sarcasm and self-mockery
rationalization and apology
exaggeration and deception
equivocation and defensiveness
moralizing and invective
5
In context, "but cannot do thee wrong" (line 16) is best understood to express the speaker's
certainty that the loved one will forgive any transgressions
concern that an act of betrayal would be morally wrong
hope that the temptations of the world will not cause unfaithfulness
belief that no future love will supplant the former one
fear that the loved one is beyond caring about their relationship
6
In line 17, "later light" most likely refers to a
new love
rekindled hope
flash of awareness
second thought
spiritual awakening
7
The fifth stanza (lines 17-20) makes use of all the following EXCEPT
metaphor
repetition
synecdoche
consonance
parallelism
8
In context, "check" (line 25) most nearly means
mark
staunch
influence
examine
ascertain
9
The last three stanzas (lines 21-32) are best understood to suggest that remembering the loved one is
necessary but addictive
important but dangerous
unpleasant but unavoidable
painful but instructive
tempting but destructive
10
Which is the best paraphrase of line 26?
Trained myself not to miss you
Taught myself to forgive you
Freed myself from suffering
Wished that I could help you
Prayed that I could be free of you
11
The speaker's "burning wish" (line 27) is for a
visit to the loved one's grave
glimpse of the loved one's feelings
second chance at love
reunion in death
respite from fear
12
The pronoun "it" (line 29) refers to the speaker's
"Despair" (line 22)
"passion" (line 25)
"soul" (line 26)
"wish" (line 27)
"tomb" (line 28)
13
The concept of "divinest anguish" (line 31) is most like that of
"dear life" (line 19)
"golden dreams" (line 21)
"useless passion" (line 25)
"burning wish" (line 27)
"rapturous pain" (line 30)
14
Which of the following best describes a central paradox of the poem?
The speaker, attempting to grow closer to a lost love, becomes even more distant from the loved one.
The speaker, in an act of remembering a childhood love, comes to an increasing awareness of mortality.
The speaker, in the act of mourning, is able to experience a newfound joy.
The speaker, worrying over forgetting a deceased lover, reveals the extent of that loved one's continuing memory.
The speaker, mourning the death of a loved one, begins to recognize the extent of an attraction to a present acquaintance.
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