Question

Which best describes the tone that the first stanza of "A Psalm of Life" sets for the rest of the poem?
A. hopeful and determined B. gloomy and dark
C. cheerful and lighthearted
D. cloudy and unclear

Answer 1

What do you think it is, and could you post the first stanza on here?

Answer 2

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Answer 3

i say its D

Answer 4

Why do you think it's D?

Answer 5

I agree with D, it is a bit cloudy and unclear.

Answer 6

Look at B @ElectricImpurity

Answer 7

@AllieKat01 It's still unclear though.

Answer 8

Possibly, but what does "cloudy" mean?
And he says, "Life is but an empty dream!"
I believe it's gloomy and dark

Answer 9

It has a depressive mood to it

Answer 10

@mjgonzales87 Why do you believe it's D?

Answer 11

Though I am not great at any thing related to poems, I believe the correct answer choice is B...

Answer 12

like what does he mean by things are not what they seem? hes being unclear about it. this stanza in just unclear

Answer 13

But think about this, what part of this stanza is cloudy?

Answer 14

As it says "For the soul is dead that slumbers, and things are not what they seem" this creates a depressing mood for the reader.

Answer 15

What does cloudy even mean? It makes way more sense for it to be dark and gloomy. @Suenahelpz gave an excellent example of why

Answer 16

@AllieKat01 I think what he means by cloudy is it seems like the meaning to the poem is just unclear and hidden in a way. I see where he is going, but B would just make more sense ;w; Give your self a round of applause too, you answered correctly as well.

Answer 17

Okay that makes more sense...and thank you! :) Hope I helped @mjgonzales87