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AP Success - AP English Literature: Sailing to Byzantium

Source 1

That is no country for old men. The young

In one another's arms, birds in the trees,

5

—Those dying generations—at their song,

The salmon-falls, the mackerel-crowded seas,

Fish, flesh, or fowl, commend all summer long

Whatever is begotten, born, and dies.

Caught in that sensual music all neglect

10

Monuments of unageing intellect.

II

15

An aged man is but a paltry thing,

A tattered coat upon a stick, unless

Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing

For every tatter in its mortal dress,

Nor is there singing school but studying

20

Monuments of its own magnificence;

And therefore I have sailed the seas and come

To the holy city of Byzantium.

25

III

O sages standing in God's holy fire

As in the gold mosaic of a wall,

Come from the holy fire, perne in a gyre,

30

And be the singing-masters of my soul.

Consume my heart away; sick with desire

And fastened to a dying animal

It knows not what it is; and gather me

Into the artifice of eternity.

35

IV

Once out of nature I shall never take

40

My bodily form from any natural thing,

But such a form as Grecian goldsmiths make

Of hammered gold and gold enamelling

To keep a drowsy Emperor awake;

Or set upon a golden bough to sing

45

To lords and ladies of Byzantium

Of what is past, or passing, or to come.

"Sailing to Byzantium" by William Butler Yeats

Question 1

Multiple choice

The phrase "no country for old men" (line 3) most likely suggests that the country mentioned is:

a metaphorical country, representing a state of mind or being
lacking in resources or facilities for older people
a place where youthfulness is celebrated or idealized
unwelcoming or inhospitable to the aged
physically challenging for the elderly to navigate

Question 2

Multiple choice

In line 9, the term "sensual music" could best be interpreted to mean:

The rhythm and flow of life that captivates the young
A specific genre of music popular among the young
The tempting aspects of youthful experiences
The natural sounds of the environment that seem musically alluring
Actual music that appeals to the senses

Question 3

Multiple choice

The "monuments of unageing intellect" (line 10) most likely symbolize:

The wisdom that comes with age, contrasting with the physical decline
Physical structures built to honor the elderly
Memories that do not fade with age
Artistic or intellectual achievements that withstand the test of time
Historical landmarks

Question 4

Multiple choice

In lines 15-22, the speaker seems to imply that the "aged man" can gain vitality and purpose through:

Travel and exploration
Interaction with the young
Emotional or spiritual expression
Intellectual pursuits
Physical rejuvenation

Question 5

Multiple choice

The repeated reference to Byzantium (line 22) is significant because it:

Highlights the speaker's fascination with ancient civilizations
Symbolizes a retreat from the sensual world
Implies a journey or pilgrimage the speaker intends to undertake
Suggests a historical context for the poem
Represents a place of intellectual and artistic achievement

Question 6

Multiple choice

The phrase "sick with desire" (line 31) most directly suggests that the speaker:

Feels a strong romantic or sexual attraction
Desires to return to youth
Is overwhelmed by the beauty of nature
Longs for a transformation or escape
Is physically ill

Question 7

Multiple choice

In the context of stanza III, the "sages standing in God's holy fire" (line 27) are likely invoked to:

Suggest a divine or supernatural presence
Indicate a ceremony or ritual
Symbolize destruction and renewal
Represent wisdom and enlightenment
Imply a judgment or punishment

Question 8

Multiple choice

The "artifice of eternity" (line 34) in the final line of stanza III suggests that the speaker desires:

To achieve a state of timelessness through spiritual means
To escape the natural cycle of life and death
To understand the concept of eternity
To find a way to live forever
To create a lasting work of art

Question 9

Multiple choice

In stanza IV, the comparison of the speaker's future form to a Grecian goldsmith's creation (lines 41-42) implies a desire for:

Transformation into an object of art
Connection to classical heritage
Artistic recognition
Permanence and beauty
Wealth and opulence

Question 10

Multiple choice

The overall tone of the poem can best be described as:

Resigned and melancholic
Joyful and celebratory
Urgent and desperate
Reflective and contemplative
Nostalgic and sentimental

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