Question

This lyric ode by the ancient Greek writer Pindar was dedicated to the winner of a contest. Which statement best sums up the speaker's feelings?

Creatures for a day! What is a man?
What is he not? A dream of a shadow
Is our mortal being. But when there comes to men
A gleam of splendour given of heaven,
Then rests on them a light of glory
And blessed are their days.
A. The speaker feels sadness that men are mortal.
B. The speaker feels joy at the winner's glory.
C. The speaker regrets that men lack honors.
D. The speaker feels afraid of the future.

Answer 1

thoughts on this?

notice how it sets up a contrast between
1. "our mortal being" --> our everyday existence, being like "a dream of a shadow" (dark, empty)
2. "a gleam of splendour" --> a brief, happy/bright experience, where people have "a light of glory" and "blessed.. days". so people's everyday existence is dark, except for brief glorious moments.

also consider the context of the poem - he's dedicating it to someone who won a contest.


with all this in mind, what do you think is the speaker's feeling?