Question

read the poem.

from security

the shadows that creep and cower about my feet
the winds that blare and leon: the tains that fall
shall not the courage of my soul appall!
i shall be conqueror, tho sore defeat
overwhelm the outbound keels of all my fleet
of dreams, tho not one battered sail, but all
go down mid-rack with heart serene, ill greet
the meekest or best, the strongest for the squall

(from \barcarole\ by charles hanson towne)

this excerpt is from the poem.
\i shall be conqueror, tho sore defeat
overwhelm the outbound keels of all my fleet
of dreams\ (lines 4–6)

based on the rest of the poem, how will the speaker be a \conqueror\ in spite of experiencing defeat?

1. by maintaining a feeling of peace
2. by pursuing only truly important goals
3. by fighting back with all possible strength
4. by being proud of other accomplishments

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze the poem's context. The lines "I'll greet the next as best, the stronger for the squall" suggest the speaker uses the defeat (squall) to become stronger, implying they fight back with strength. Option 1 (peace) doesn't align with "fighting back." Option 2 (pursuing only important goals) isn't supported. Option 4 (pride in other accomplishments) is not indicated. Option 3 matches the idea of using the defeat to fight back with all strength.

Answer:

1. by fighting back with all possible strength