Question

“forest trees”
by edna s. vincent millay
monarchs of long forgotten realms, ye stand;
majestic, grand;
unscathed by time’s destructive hand.
enthroned on dais of velvet moss, inset
with the royal purple of the violet;
and crowned with mistletoe.
how many ages o’er your head have flown,
to you is known—
to you, ye forest founders of the past, alone.
no other eyes may scan the breadth of years,
each with its share of peace, and joy, and tears;
of happiness and woe.
around you all is changed—and where now is land
sown with weeds ploughed to turn the seething main:
kingdoms have been; and the fire-fiend’s hand
has crushed them to their mother earth again;
and though in all ye stand, and still will stand
till ages yet to come have owned your might.

how does the poet develop the speaker’s point of view of the forest trees?
○ by imagining the feelings of the forest trees, the speaker shows that she identifies with their importance and status.
○ by using descriptive language about the forest trees, the speaker expresses her appreciation for nature.
○ by highlighting humankind’s attempts to cut down the forest trees, the speaker highlights her anger at the actions of society.
○ by contrasting the past and present states of the forest trees, the speaker conveys nostalgia for a simpler time.

Explanation:

To determine how the poet develops the speaker’s point of view of the forest trees, we analyze each option:

• First option: Imagining the trees’ feelings to show identification with their importance. The poem’s imagery (e.g., “Majestic grand,” “Unscathed by Time’s destructive hand”) personifies the trees but focuses more on their enduring nature, not primarily on “feelings” to show identification with importance. Eliminate.

• Second option: Descriptive language about the forest (e.g., “royal purple of the violet,” “enthralled in dales of velvet moss”) creates vivid imagery that conveys the speaker’s appreciation for nature’s beauty and the trees’ significance. This aligns with how descriptive language expresses appreciation.

• Third option: The poem does not highlight “anger at society” over cutting trees. The tone is more reverent and reflective, not angry. Eliminate.

• Fourth option: The poem contrasts the past (kings, time’s hand) and present (how the trees remain), but the focus is on the trees’ endurance, not “nostalgia for a simpler time.” The contrast emphasizes nature’s constancy, not longing for simplicity. Eliminate.

Answer:

The correct option is: By using descriptive language about the forest trees, the speaker expresses her appreciation for nature.