Question

read the following excerpt from william blakes songs of innocence: the echoing green and answer the questions.
the sun does arise,
and make happy the skies;
the merry bells ring
to welcome the spring;
the skylark and thrush,
the birds of the bush,
sing louder around
to the bells cheerful sound;

1. how does blakes reference to merry bells and the cheerful sound of birds enhance the tone of the poem?

a. it introduces a tone of irony and criticism
b. it creates a melancholic mood
c. it reinforces the tone of happiness
d. it adds a sense of foreboding

1. what does the imagery of the sun does arise, and make happy the skies suggest about blakes view of nature?

a. nature is a reflection of human suffering
b. nature is unpredictable and chaotic
c. nature brings joy and renewal
d. nature is indifferent to human emotion

Explanation:

Question 3

• Option a: "Irony and criticism" don't match the positive words like "merry", "cheerful", and the welcoming of Spring.
• Option b: "Melancholic mood" is sad, but the excerpt uses happy, merry, and cheerful language, so this is incorrect.
• Option c: "Merry bells" and "cheerful sound" of birds are positive, reinforcing happiness, which fits the poem's tone.
• Option d: "Foreboding" is a sense of impending danger, which is not present here.

• Option a: The line shows nature (sun, skies) as happy, not reflecting human suffering.
• Option b: "Unpredictable and chaotic" is not suggested; the sun rising to make skies happy is orderly and positive.
• Option c: The sun rising and making skies happy implies nature brings joy (happy skies) and renewal (sunrise, Spring welcome), matching this option.
• Option d: The line shows nature has a positive emotional impact (makes skies happy), so it's not indifferent.

Answer:

c. It reinforces the tone of happiness

Question 4