Question

these lines are from the poem. \and leave it there far from a useful fireplace to warm the frozen swamp as best it could with the slow smokeless burning of decay\ (lines 38 - 40) how does the phrase slow smokeless burning of decay contribute to meaning in the poem? 1. it makes a comparison between feeling warm by a fireplace and feeling warm in a frozen swamp. 2. it reveals the irony that the wood was intended to burn in a fireplace but now burns in a different way. 3. it suggests that even though the wood is in the frozen swamp it could still be burned in a fireplace. 4. it indicates that the wood has been left behind so that it can provide at least a little warmth to the swamp.

Explanation:

The wood was meant for a fireplace but now decays slowly in the swamp. This shows irony in its new - way of 'burning'.

Answer:

1. It reveals the irony that the wood was intended to burn in a fireplace but now burns in a different way.