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AP Success - AP English Literature: Sailing to Byzantium

That is no country for old men. The young

In one another's arms, birds in the trees,

5

—Those dying generations—at their song,

The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,

Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long

Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.

Caught in that sensual music all neglect

10

Monuments of unageing intellect.

II

15

An aged man is but a paltry thing,

A tattered coat upon a stick, unless

Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing

For every tatter in its mortal dress,

Nor is there singing school but studying

20

Monuments of its own magnificence;

And therefore I have sailed the seas and come

To the holy city of Byzantium.

25

III

O sages standing in God's holy fire

As in the gold mosaic of a wall,

Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,

30

And be the singing-masters of my soul.

Consume my heart away; sick with desire

And fastened to a dying animal

It knows not what it is; and gather me

Into the artifice of eternity.

35

IV

Once out of nature I shall never take

40

My bodily form from any natural thing,

But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make

Of hammered gold and gold enamelling

To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;

Or set upon a golden bough to sing

45

To lords and ladies of Byzantium

Of what is past, or passing, or to come.

Source 1: Sailing to Byzantium by William Butler Yeats

1

The phrase "no country for old men" (line 3) most likely suggests that the country mentioned is:

unwelcoming or inhospitable to the aged
a place where youthfulness is celebrated or idealized
a metaphorical country, representing a state of mind or being
physically challenging for the elderly to navigate
lacking in resources or facilities for older people

2

In line 9, the term "sensual music" could best be interpreted to mean:

The natural sounds of the environment that seem musically alluring
Actual music that appeals to the senses
A specific genre of music popular among the young
The tempting aspects of youthful experiences
The rhythm and flow of life that captivates the young

3

The "monuments of unageing intellect" (line 10) most likely symbolize:

Historical landmarks
Memories that do not fade with age
Physical structures built to honor the elderly
The wisdom that comes with age, contrasting with the physical decline
Artistic or intellectual achievements that withstand the test of time

4

In lines 15-22, the speaker seems to imply that the "aged man" can gain vitality and purpose through:

Intellectual pursuits
Physical rejuvenation
Travel and exploration
Interaction with the young
Emotional or spiritual expression

5

The repeated reference to Byzantium (line 22) is significant because it:

Suggests a historical context for the poem
Represents a place of intellectual and artistic achievement
Highlights the speaker's fascination with ancient civilizations
Implies a journey or pilgrimage the speaker intends to undertake
Symbolizes a retreat from the sensual world

6

The phrase "sick with desire" (line 31) most directly suggests that the speaker:

Desires to return to youth
Is overwhelmed by the beauty of nature
Feels a strong romantic or sexual attraction
Is physically ill
Longs for a transformation or escape

7

In the context of stanza III, the "sages standing in God's holy fire" (line 27) are likely invoked to:

Symbolize destruction and renewal
Suggest a divine or supernatural presence
Represent wisdom and enlightenment
Indicate a ceremony or ritual
Imply a judgment or punishment

8

The "artifice of eternity" (line 34) in the final line of stanza III suggests that the speaker desires:

To find a way to live forever
To understand the concept of eternity
To escape the natural cycle of life and death
To achieve a state of timelessness through spiritual means
To create a lasting work of art

9

In stanza IV, the comparison of the speaker's future form to a Grecian goldsmith's creation (lines 41-42) implies a desire for:

Wealth and opulence
Transformation into an object of art
Connection to classical heritage
Artistic recognition
Permanence and beauty

10

The overall tone of the poem can best be described as:

Reflective and contemplative
Resigned and melancholic
Joyful and celebratory
Nostalgic and sentimental
Urgent and desperate

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