Question 25
GCE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1
•
2024
•
LITERATURE_IN_ENGLISH
•
objective
In the poem *Petals of Time* the poet repeatedly mentions a wilted rose. In stanza 1 the rose is described as "once crimson, now drooping in the morning frost"; in stanza 3 the rose is "crushed beneath the weight of forgotten promises"; and in the final stanza the rose "lies buried, its scent a faint echo of yesterday". Explain how the imagery of the rose evolves across the poem and discuss what it symbolises in relation to the poem's central theme.
Answer Options
A.
Initially the rose is portrayed as a bright, untouched flower (symbol of purity), later it is described as a burning ember (symbol of anger), and finally it becomes a dried petal floating on water (symbol of surrender). This suggests the poem celebrates transformation and renewal rather than loss.
Correct Answer
B.
The rose changes from a drooping, frost‑kissed flower (sign of early decline) to a crushed blossom under forgotten promises (active destruction) and finally to a buried flower whose scent is only a faint echo (complete loss). It symbolises the fragility of beauty/hope and illustrates the poem's theme of inevitable loss and the fading of memory.
C.
The rose is first shown as a blooming garden centerpiece (sign of abundance), then as a broken vase (sign of chaos), and finally as a seed sprouting anew (sign of rebirth). It conveys the idea that hope is cyclical, contradicting the poem's focus on irreversible decline.
D.
The rose begins as a vibrant, sun‑kissed bloom (sign of youthful optimism) then wilts under a sudden storm (passive decay) and finally turns into a withered stem that still bears thorns (persistent danger). It represents the endurance of passion despite adversity, aligning with the poem's theme of relentless struggle.
Correct Answer
B
Correct Option:
The rose changes from a drooping, frost‑kissed flower (sign of early decline) to a crushed blossom under forgotten promises (active destruction) and finally to a buried flower whose scent is only a faint echo (complete loss). It symbolises the fragility of beauty/hope and illustrates the poem's theme of inevitable loss and the fading of memory.
About This Question
This is
Gce Model Questions Vol1
2024
Literature In English
Question 25.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2024
Gce Model Questions Vol1
Literature In English
examination.
Difficulty level:
Hard
.