Question

Help with quick last question on simple poetry...

Answer 1

Because one loves you, Helen Grey,
Is that a reason you should pout,
And like a March wind veer about,
And frown, and say your shrewish say?
Don't strain the cord until it snaps,
Don't split the sound heart with your wedge,
Don't cut your fingers with the edge
Of your keen wit; you may, perhaps.

Because you're handsome, Helen Grey,
Is that a reason to be proud?
Your eyes are bold, your laugh is loud,
Your steps go mincing on their way;
But so you miss that modest charm
Which is the surest charm of all:
Take heed, you yet may trip and fall,
And -----

Answer 2

no man care to stretch his arm.

Stoop from your cold height, Helen Grey,
Come down, and take a lowlier place;
Come down, to fill it now with grace;
Come down you must perforce some day:
For years cannot be kept at bay,
And fading years will make you old;
Then in their turn will men seem cold,
When you yourself are nipped and grey.

Answer 3

How do the lines in bold help develop the main point or theme of the poem?

Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Answer 4

The bolded part is "Don't strain the cord until it snaps,
Don't split the sound heart with your wedge"

Answer 5

Do you know what the main point of the poem is?

Answer 6

I'm assuming that the main point is basically that Helen is a bit vain, and that she's too proud of her looks and appearance to realize she doesn't have a nice personality.

However, for some reason I'm having a bit of trouble tying that in with the bolded portion. I don't quite know how to word it... lol

Answer 7

By "the cord" and "sound heart" is the poet referring to the person who loves her? I'm just a bit confused there...

Answer 8

I think that "the chord" and "sound heart" are referring to Helen's admirer.

Answer 9

Perhaps "Don't strain the cord until it snaps,
Don't split the sound heart with your wedge," means don't take other's admiration for granted.

Answer 10

Ah, I think that's a better way to put it. That makes it a bit easier to understand. So, it kinda ties in because the whole poem since it's all about her being on her high horse, and being quite cold and insensitive. It kinda ties in by telling her to become a better person I guess.

I think that's the best way to put, right?

Answer 11

Anyway, yay!

Thanks for the help! I gave you best response!