Question 52
NECO
•
2024
•
LITERATURE_IN_ENGLISH
•
objective
Consider the following excerpt from an unnamed poem: "The river runs swift, bearing secrets of the valley, / Yet a lone bridge arches, daring to span the unknown. / Storm clouds gather, but the bridge stands, a promise of passage." Explain the symbolism of (i) the river and (ii) the bridge, and infer the poet's attitude toward progress as expressed through these symbols.
Answer Options
Correct Answer
A.
The river symbolizes the steady, unaltered flow of tradition or nature, while the bridge symbolizes human effort to cross or change that flow - i.e., progress. By calling the bridge "daring" and a "promise of passage" that endures despite storm clouds, the poet adopts a hopeful yet cautious attitude toward progress, seeing it as brave and resilient.
B.
The river depicts the flow of ideas, and the bridge marks a division between old and new, suggesting the poet perceives progress as a source of conflict rather than a hopeful promise.
C.
The river is a symbol of emotional chaos, and the bridge is a fleeting refuge, indicating the poet's view that progress is temporary and ultimately unsustainable.
D.
The river stands for the relentless march of history, while the bridge represents a fragile link that hinders movement, showing the poet's belief that progress is precarious and likely to fail.
Correct Answer
A
Correct Option:
The river symbolizes the steady, unaltered flow of tradition or nature, while the bridge symbolizes human effort to cross or change that flow - i.e., progress. By calling the bridge "daring" and a "promise of passage" that endures despite storm clouds, the poet adopts a hopeful yet cautious attitude toward progress, seeing it as brave and resilient.
About This Question
This is
Neco
2024
Literature In English
Question 52.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2024
Neco
Literature In English
examination.
Difficulty level:
Hard
.