Sea Violet Quizzes

Sea Violet Quiz

1 What religious sector were H.D.'s parents members of?
Moravian

Episcopalian

Hasidic Judaism

Catholic
2 Why did H.D. leave Bryn Mawr
Illness

Boredom

Affair with a professor

Poor grades
3 Where did H.D. meet Ezra Pound?
Bryn Mawr

University of Pennsylvania

Europe

Childhood church
4 What is a distinguishing quality of Imagist poetry?
Concise language

Passive voice

Riddles

Disturbing imagery
5 When did H.D.'s poems first appear in print?
1924

1916

1913

1933
6 Where did H.D. live in Europe long-term besides Britain?
Italy

Denmark

Switzerland

Germany
7 What is one form of writing H.D. used several times during her career?
Comedy

Tribute

Play

Manifesto
8 In what context did H.D.'s poetic style shift to longer, more elaborate work?
Explorations of Greek mythology

During both World Wars

Discussions of her Freudian analysis

When she was in love
9 Which one of these is one of H.D.'s published collections?
Crouching Toward Bethlehem

The Usual Star

Egypt in Flames

Flowers for Helen
10 Which long poem was considered one of H.D.'s greatest works?
Morning Dew

The Chalice

Dionysus

Helen in Egypt
11 What is agate?
A colorful, fine-grained stone

A species of wildflower

A type of rock found in Switzerland

A ruler of Egypt
12 Is the white violet the sea violet in the poem "Sea Violet"?
Both the blue violet and white violet are sea violets

There are three kinds of violets in the poem

No

Yes
13 What does the sea violet do, "fronting all the wind"?
Sways

Flutters

Lies

Shifts
14 What keeps the sea-violet company in "Sea Violet"?
Rolling hills

Torn shells

Blue violets

Sparse leaves
15 What tone does the speaker exhibit when describing the sea violet as "fragile," "fronting all the wind / among the torn shells"?
Sadness

Fear

Contempt

Admiration
16 What is ironic about H.D.'s use of "greater" in the phrase "The greater blue violets"?
She doesn't actually believe the blue violets are greater

She knows white violets are larger by the sea

She insinuates that blue represents evil

She feels the blue and white violets are equal
17 What effect does H.D.'s repetition of the phrase "who would change for these" have?
The question reminds one of the ocean

The speaker seems to stammer with fear

The phrase lulls the reader into submission

The question becomes a statement of powerful belief
18 What does H.D. feel is more valuable than many blue violets combined?
An ocean view

One root of a white violet

A garden of equality

A promise of stability
19 Why is the distinction between the words "fronting" and "flutter[ing]" important?
One action is brave and resilient and one is mild and passive

It evokes the word freedom

The distinction reveals the similarities between the two violets

One violet is false and one is genuine
20 In what stanza of "Sea Violet" does H.D. pose a similar query like the one in the last stanza of "Sea Rose"?
Fourth stanza

First stanza

Third stanza

Second stanza
21 Which violet does H.D. refer to directly in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?
All violets

The violet that stands out from blue and white violets

The white violet

The blue violet
22 Why is the frailty H.D. describes in "Sea Violet" different than the frailty expected of women in a patriarchal society?
The frailty of H.D. seeks to emphasize how women should not be expected to carry the burdens of men

The frailty reveals the hardship endured, and the strength in both survival and revealing vulnerability

The frailty expected of women in the patriarchy is a form of flattery, and H.D.'s frailty is a criticism

H.D. is talking about fragile masculinity
23 What effect does the switch to second person have in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?
The change evokes a sense of respect and allyship

The white violet becomes a separate, foreign identity

The reader feels sorry for the violet

2nd person allows H.D. to fully express her anger
24 What does H.D. mean when she writes "but you catch the light—" in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"
The sea violet is more beautiful than the blue violet

The sea violet is valuable in that it lights up the sandy bank

The sea violet combats the darkness

The sea violet is potent and radiant, despite its fragility
25 What does the reference to both "frost" and "fire" evoke in the last line of "Sea Violet"?
The pros and cons of the sea violet, which is flawed but precious

The fear women have of disintegration and physical harm

The dualities of the feminine spirit, as well as its intensity, splendor, and strength

The ambivalence men have about respecting women or denigrating them

Sea Violet Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Sea Violet is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Ask Your Own Question

Study Guide for Sea Violet

Sea Violet study guide contains a biography of H. D., literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Read the Study Guide for Sea Violet…