Question

george gray
i have studied many times
the marble which was chiseled for me —
a boat with a furled sail at rest in a harbor.
in truth it pictures not my destination
but my life.
for love was offered me and i shrank from its disillusionment;
sorrow knocked at my door, but i was afraid;
ambition called to me, but i dreaded the chances.
yet all the while i hungered for meaning in my life.
and now i know that we must lift the sail
and catch the winds of destiny
wherever they drive the boat.
to put meaning in ones life may end in madness.
which sentence is the best summary of the poem?

1. a person finds love and happiness through ambition.
2. a person reflects on a life lived without enthusiasm or zeal.
3. a persons reflections on life change his attitude toward the past.
4. a persons journey through life is filled with insurmountable obstacles.

Explanation:

The poem shows the speaker looking back on a life where they shied away from love, sorrow, and ambition, hungering for meaning. It's a reflection on a life lacking in enthusiasm. Option 1 is incorrect as the poem doesn't suggest finding love and happiness through ambition. Option 3 is wrong as there's no indication of a change in attitude towards the past. Option 4 is not accurate as insurmountable obstacles aren't the main theme.

Answer:

1. A person reflects on a life lived without enthusiasm or zeal.