美国文学课后习题文档格式.docx

1、 whereas the song is naturally invisible.2. In what circumstances did he find them again?He finds them unexpectedly years later from the trunk of a tree and the heart of a friend.3. What do arrow and song stand for in this poem?The images of arrow and song here may stand for friendship.（2） A Psalm o

2、f Life1. What kind of person is the speaker of this poem?The speaker is a man of action, always optimistic and cheerful, trying to achieve as much as possible in the short span of life.2. According to the poem, how should our lives be led to overcome the fact that each day brings us nearer to death?

3、We should work harder and live happier.3. Interpret the metaphor of Footprints on the sand of time （line 28）.The metaphor refers to human deeds in real life.2. Walt Whitman（1）Ones Self I Sing1. What is the significance of singing about ones self?It is an exaltation of the individual spirit, which is

4、 typical of American people.2. What is the difference between physiology and physiognomy?Physiology is a science that deals with the functions and life process of human beings, whereas physiognomy refers to an art of judging character from contours of face itself or the appearance of a person.3. Wha

5、t does Whitman mean by the term of the Modern Man?He means that a man should be free from any prejudice and pride, totally different from the traditional one, that is full of bias.（3） O Captain! My Captain!1. Why is the word Captain capitalized throughout the poem?In this poem the word “Captain” spe

6、cially refers to Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States.2. What overall metaphor does the poet employ in this poem?Life is a journey.3. Why do people on the shores exult and bells ring, while the speaker remains so sad?They welcome the ship returning from its hard trip, whereas the speaker

7、is sad because the captain fails to receive his own honor.3.Emily Dickinson（1） To Make a Prairie 1. What things are needed to make a prairie? In what sense can one really do it?Some grass and insects and small animals. People can make a prairie with their imagination.2. How can revery alone create a

8、 prairie?The prairie stays in ones mind.（2） Success Is Counted Sweetest1. Why is success counted sweetest by those who neer succeedThose who have tasted the bitterness of failure would have a keener desire for success.2. Who are the purple hostThe so-called successful people in the world.3. Who is h

9、e in the last stanza?Anyone who is pursuing his success.（3） Im Nobody!1. Who are the pair of us and they in this poem?The refers to the speaker in the poem and the reader, and refers to the public, especially those in power.2. What does an admiring bog really mean?It Implies the vain and empty commo

10、n people, who are always admiring and pursuing the celebrities.3. What is the theme of this poem?The real admirable life is a secluded and common one.4. Do you want to be nobody or somebody Explain your reasons.Different persons would have different answers to this question. Personally, I prefer to

11、be nobody.Unit 17 20th-Century American Poets1. Ezra PoundIn A Station of the Metro1. Why does the poet call the faces of pedestrians apparitionThese pedestrians are all walking in a hurry amidst the drizzling rain.2. What do petalsbough stand for?Petals refer to the faces while the bough stands for

12、 the floating crowd.2. Wallace StevensAnecdote of the Jar1. What does the jar in poem symbolize? Why does the speaker place it on top of a hill?The jar here symbolizes a certain perspective on looking at this world. If the perspective of the viewing is creative and unique, it will change the convent

13、ional order of the old world. When a new perspective comes out, it will certainly hold attention from the rest.2. The jar is roundof a port in air, meaning that it has a stately importance. What effect does it have on surroundings when placed on the ground?Maybe the round jar assumes the air of a do

14、mineering figure, which helps to form a certain order out of the disordered surrounding.3. How did the wilderness of Tennessee characterized? What words or phrases does the poet use to describe it?Tennessee seems to a place full of life and energy. “Slovenly,” “sprawl” and “wild” are some of the wor

15、ds used to describe the place. （See Anecdote of the Jar ）3. William Carlos WilliamsWilliam Carlos Williams1. How does the first two lines differ from the other pairs of lines?Each of the last three couplets creates a visual image （“a red wheelbarrow,” “glazed with rainwater,” and “the white chickens

16、”）, whereas the first one does not.2. What is the most visually compelling word in each of the last three pairs of lines?They are “red, glazed and white”. （See EXPLANATION: “The Red Wheelbarrow” below）3. What is the meaning of depends upon in the first pair of lines?The opening lines set the tone fo

17、r the rest of the poem. Since the poem is composed of one sentence broken up at various intervals, it is truthful to say that so much depends upon each line of the poem. This is so because the form of the poem is also its meaning. This may seem confusing, but by the end of the poem the image of the

18、wheelbarrow is seen as the actual poem, as in a painting when one sees an image of an apple, the apple represents an actual object in reality, but since it is part of a painting the apple also becomes the actual piece of art. These lines are also important because they introduce the idea that the wh

19、eelbarrow.SEE answer 1.4.Robert Frost（1）Fire and Ice1. What are the symbolic meanings of fire in this poem?Fire symbolizes natural disaster, human passion, as well as war.2. Why does the speaker say that ice is also great for destruction? Explain what ice stands for here.Ice, oppose to fire, is also

20、 a dreadful natural disaster in this world, and ice is always related to indifference, coldness, hatred, and the other negative sentiments of human beings.3. What is your opinion about fire and ice? Which one is more destructive?Both fire and ice can destroy this beautiful world if they are beyond c

21、ontrol of human beings. Therefore we should be open-minded and reduce our prejudice and pride so as to keep this world in peace.（2）Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening1. In your opinion, what was the reason that made the speaker stop by the woods on a snowy evening?The poet was deeply attracted by t

22、he natural beauty of the scene at that very moment.2. Why did the horse give the harness bell a shake?The horse grew impatient by stopping in the middle of the dark, cold woods at midnight. It was eager to go home.3. Why couldnt the speaker stay longer by the woods to appreciate its mysterious beaut

23、y?He realized that it was late at night and he would have to hurry home to get some food and sleep, because the next morning he would have a lot of work to do.4. What is the effect of repetition in the last two lines?The refrain-like repetition in the last two lines reminds the reader a simple fact

24、of life: whatever happens, one must go forward in the journey of his or her life.（3） The Road Not Taken 1. What is the speakers initial response to the divergence of the two roads?The speaker is at a loss which road he should choose, and he feels sorry that he cannot explore both roads at the same t

25、ime.2. Describe the similarities and differences of these two roads. Which one does the speaker take?Two roads are similar except one of them is more “grassy,” which implies that it is less traveled by people. The speaker prefers the less traveled one, because he likes adventure.3. What might the tw

26、o roads stand for in the speakers mind?One road stands for the traditional one and the other is unconventional one and full of challenges and difficulties. To follow other peoples footsteps or to open a new road for himself is really not an easy decision for us to make in our lives.5. Langston Hughe

27、s（1）Dreams1. Why must we stick to our dreams?If God is not the first move in our life, surely our dreams are the same.2. What images does the poet employ to describe the life once we lose our dreams?Without dreams our life will be a broken bird and a barren field. I think without dream our life will be a