Question

read the poem.

from the fisher-boy urashima

tis spring, and the mists come stealing
oer suminoyes shore,
and i stand by the seaside musing
on the days that are no more.

i muse on the old-world story,
as the boats glide to and fro,
of the fisher-boy, urashima,
who a-fishing loved to go;

how he came not back to the village
though sevn suns had risen and set,
but rowed on past the bounds of ocean,
and the sea-gods daughter met;

how they pledged their faith to each other,
and came to the evergreen land,
and entered the sea-gods palace
so lovingly hand in hand,

to dwell for aye in that country,
the ocean-maiden and he—
the country where youth and beauty
abide eternally.

(from \the fisher-boy urashima\ by anonymous)

this question has two parts. answer part a, and then answer part b.

part a
which statement best describes the speaker’s perspective on urashima’s journey?

1. the speaker wishes urashima would return to the village.
2. the speaker finds urashima’s story to be a romantic one.
3. the speaker thinks urashima’s decision to leave is confusing.
4. the speaker believes urashima behaved foolishly by leaving his family.

part b
choose two excerpts from the poem that best support the correct answer from part a.

1. \and i stand by the seaside musing / on the days that are no more.\ (lines 3–4)
2. \how he came not back to the village / though sevn suns had risen and set,\ (lines 9–10)

Explanation:

Part A

• Option 1: The poem doesn't show the speaker wishing Urashima's return; it focuses on the story's romantic elements. Eliminate.
• Option 2: Lines like "pledged their faith", "Evergreen Land", "youth and beauty abide eternally" suggest a romantic view of Urashima's journey with the sea - god's daughter. This fits.
• Option 3: The poem doesn't present the decision as confusing; it tells the story of the journey. Eliminate.
• Option 4: There's no criticism of Urashima's behavior; the tone is more admiring/romantic. Eliminate.

• For the correct answer in Part A (romantic view), we need excerpts showing the romantic aspects of Urashima's journey.
• Excerpt "How they pledged their faith to each other, / And came to the Evergreen Land, / And entered the sea - god's palace / So lovingly hand in hand," (Lines 13 - 16) shows the romantic pledge and journey together.
• Excerpt "To dwell for aye in that country, / The ocean - maiden and he— / The country where youth and beauty / Abide eternally." (Lines 17 - 20) shows the eternal youth and beauty of their new home, adding to the romantic tone. (Note: Since the original options are cut off, but based on the poem, these are the relevant lines. If we assume the options include these or similar romantic - themed lines, we choose them. For example, if one of the options is "How they pledged their faith to each other, / And came to the Evergreen Land, / And entered the sea - god's palace / So lovingly hand in hand" and another is "To dwell for aye in that country, / The ocean - maiden and he— / The country where youth and beauty / Abide eternally", we choose these two.)

Answer:

1. The speaker finds Urashima's story to be a romantic one.

Part B