Question

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.

which phrases best describe the abstract themes contemplated in this poem?
a beauty, love, and joy
b fear, horror, and the unknown
c anger, misery, and righteousness
d life choices, regret, fulfillment, courage

Explanation:

The poem George Gray centers on the speaker's missed opportunities (rejecting love, avoiding sorrow, fearing ambition), his regret over a stagnant, unfulfilled life, and the tension between longing for meaning and fear of taking risks. Option D's themes of life choices, regret, and the struggle with courage/fulfillment align perfectly with this. Other options do not match: A's positive themes are absent, B's horror/fear is not the core, and C's anger/self-righteousness are not present in the text.

Answer:

D. life choices, regret, fulfillment, courage