Question

and a heaven full of stars
over my head,
white and topaz
and misty red;

myriads¹ with beating
hearts of fire
that aeons²
cannot vex or tire;

up the dome of heaven
like a great hill,
i watch them marching
stately and still,

and i know that i
am honored to be
witness
of so much majesty.

(\stars\ by sara teasdale)
¹myriads: large number
²aeons: vast amount of time

5 what does the phrase i / am honored mean in lines 17-18 of the poem?

1. the speaker feels respected by the stars.
2. the speaker feels responsible for the stars.
3. the speaker feels privileged to observe the stars.
4. the speaker feels humble in the presence of the stars.

Explanation:

The phrase "I / Am honored" is paired with "to be Witness / Of so much majesty" referring to the stars. This shows the speaker views observing the grand, timeless stars as a special, privileged experience. Option 1 is incorrect because the stars do not show respect to the speaker. Option 2 is wrong as there is no mention of responsibility for the stars. Option 4 is not accurate; the focus is on privilege of witnessing, not personal humility.

Answer:

1. The speaker feels privileged to observe the stars.