Question

\forest trees\
by edna st. vincent millay
monarchs of long forgotten realms, ye stand;
majestic, grand;
unscared 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.
15
around you all is changed—and where now is land
swift vessels ploughed to foam the seething main;
kingdoms have risen, and the fire-fiend’s hand
has crushed them to their mother earth again;
and through it all ye stand, and still will stand
till ages yet to come have owned your reign.
\forest trees\ by edna st. vincent millay from st. nicholas: an illustrated magazine for young folks. copyright
1906 by the century co., new york. public domain
costs a platform
what is the effect of the personification of the forest trees in the second stanza?
○ it illustrates the importance of hiding the forest trees.
○ it creates a sense of mystery about the setting.
○ it emphasizes that the forest trees offer insight about the past.
○ it shifts the tone from complimentary to ominous.

Explanation:

To determine the effect of personifying the forest trees (treating them as monarchs), we analyze the second stanza: "Monarchs of long - forgotten realms, ye stand; / Majestic, grand; / Unscared by Time’s destructive hand, / Enthroned on dais of velvet moss, inset / With the royal purple of the violet; / And crowned with mistletoe." Then we evaluate each option:

• Option 1: The stanza focuses on the trees' grand, enduring nature as monarchs, not on hiding them. So this is incorrect.
• Option 2: There's no mystery created; it presents the trees' regal presence clearly. So this is incorrect.
• Option 3: By personifying the trees as monarchs with insights into the past (implied by their long - standing presence through ages, as seen in later stanzas like "How many ages o’er your head have flown"), this option fits. The trees, as monarchs, have witnessed many ages, so they offer insight into the past.
• Option 4: The tone is complimentary (praising the trees' majesty) throughout, with no shift to ominous. So this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. It emphasizes that the forest trees offer insight about the past