Question

question 19 of 25
read the following excerpt from the poem \spring\ by edna st. vincent millay:
to what purpose, april, do you return again?
beauty is not enough.
you can no longer quiet me with the redness
of little leaves opening stickily.
i know what i know.
which best describes the effect of the poem’s word choice on its meaning?
a. the speaker explains that april provides encouragement with its
beauty, which includes the \little leaves opening stickily.\

b. the phrase
o longer quiet me\ conveys the speaker’s indignation
with april, as if she has been tricked by its beauty.

c. the words \purpose\ and \beauty\ suggest that april, and spring in
general, is a source of optimism for the speaker.

d. the speaker compares the stickiness of the new red leaves with
the rest of spring’s glory to suggest new life

Explanation:

Let’s analyze each option:

• Option A: The poem says “Beauty is not enough” and “You can no longer quiet me”, which contradicts the idea that April provides encouragement.
• Option B: “No longer quiet me” implies that the speaker was previously perhaps lulled or tricked by April’s beauty (as in the past April's beauty could quiet her, but now she is indignant as she realizes something more - “I know what I know”).
• Option C: The use of “Beauty is not enough” goes against April being a source of optimism.
• Option D: There is no comparison in the poem that suggests new life in the way described. The focus is more on the speaker's reaction to April's beauty.

Answer:

B. The phrase ‘no longer quiet me’ conveys the speaker’s indignation with April, as if she has been tricked by its beauty.