Question

name: ____ mark: ____
read the text and answer the questions that follow.
george gray
edgar lee masters

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 one’s life may end in madness,
but life without meaning is the torture
of restlessness and vague desire—
it is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.

1. which sentence best expresses george gray’s reflection upon his time on earth?

a. george is very glad that he risked all he had for love.
b. george believes that he led a fulfilling and happy life.
c. george is filled with regret and sadness at his timidity.
d. george believes he was wise to take advantage of every opportunity.

1. what does the author say about “ambitions”?

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1. what does the author mean by “to put meaning in one’s life may end in madness,

but life without meaning is the torture”?
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Explanation:

Question 1

• Option A: The poem says George "shrank from" love's disillusionment, so he didn't risk for love. Eliminate A.
• Option B: Lines like "I hungered for meaning" and his timidity (shrinking from love, fearing sorrow/ambition's chances) show his life wasn't fulfilling. Eliminate B.
• Option C: George avoided love, sorrow, and ambition's chances due to fear/timidity, and now reflects with regret (hungered for meaning, realizes life without meaning is torture). This matches.
• Option D: He "dreaded the chances" of ambition and avoided opportunities, so he didn't take advantage. Eliminate D.

From the line "Ambition called to me, but I dreaded the chances", the author shows George was afraid of the risks or uncertainties that came with pursuing ambition, so he avoided responding to ambition's call.

The first part ("To put meaning in one’s life may end in madness") suggests that the pursuit of meaning can be fraught with challenges, confusion, or even psychological turmoil (madness) as it's not an easy or guaranteed path. The second part ("But life without meaning is the torture") implies that a life lacking purpose or meaning is agonizing, filled with restlessness and vague desire (as later lines say "of restlessness and vague desire"). So the author conveys that while seeking meaning has risks, a meaningless life is even worse (torture), highlighting the importance of striving for meaning despite the potential hardships.

Answer:

C. George is filled with regret and sadness at his timidity.

Question 2