Sea Violet Quizzes

Sea Violet Quiz

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

Catholic

Moravian

Hasidic Judaism
2 Why did H.D. leave Bryn Mawr
Poor grades

Boredom

Affair with a professor

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

Europe

University of Pennsylvania

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

Passive voice

Disturbing imagery

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

1916

1933

1913
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?
Tribute

Manifesto

Play

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

Discussions of her Freudian analysis

During both World Wars

When she was in love
9 Which one of these is one of H.D.'s published collections?
The Usual Star

Crouching Toward Bethlehem

Flowers for Helen

Egypt in Flames
10 Which long poem was considered one of H.D.'s greatest works?
Morning Dew

Dionysus

Helen in Egypt

The Chalice
11 What is agate?
A species of wildflower

A type of rock found in Switzerland

A ruler of Egypt

A colorful, fine-grained stone
12 Is the white violet the sea violet in the poem "Sea Violet"?
Both the blue violet and white violet are sea violets

No

There are three kinds of violets in the poem

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

Lies

Shifts

Flutters
14 What keeps the sea-violet company in "Sea Violet"?
Sparse leaves

Torn shells

Blue violets

Rolling hills
15 What tone does the speaker exhibit when describing the sea violet as "fragile," "fronting all the wind / among the torn shells"?
Admiration

Fear

Sadness

Contempt
16 What is ironic about H.D.'s use of "greater" in the phrase "The greater blue violets"?
She feels the blue and white violets are equal

She insinuates that blue represents evil

She doesn't actually believe the blue violets are greater

She knows white violets are larger by the sea
17 What effect does H.D.'s repetition of the phrase "who would change for these" have?
The speaker seems to stammer with fear

The question reminds one of the ocean

The question becomes a statement of powerful belief

The phrase lulls the reader into submission
18 What does H.D. feel is more valuable than many blue violets combined?
A garden of equality

A promise of stability

An ocean view

One root of a white violet
19 Why is the distinction between the words "fronting" and "flutter[ing]" important?
It evokes the word freedom

One violet is false and one is genuine

One action is brave and resilient and one is mild and passive

The distinction reveals the similarities between the two violets
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

Second stanza

Third stanza
21 Which violet does H.D. refer to directly in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?
The blue violet

The violet that stands out from blue and white violets

All violets

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

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

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 reader feels sorry for the violet

The white violet becomes a separate, foreign identity

2nd person allows H.D. to fully express her anger

The change evokes a sense of respect and allyship
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 valuable in that it lights up the sandy bank

The sea violet is potent and radiant, despite its fragility

The sea violet combats the darkness

The sea violet is more beautiful than the blue violet
25 What does the reference to both "frost" and "fire" evoke in the last line of "Sea Violet"?
The dualities of the feminine spirit, as well as its intensity, splendor, and strength

The pros and cons of the sea violet, which is flawed but precious

The fear women have of disintegration and physical harm

The ambivalence men have about respecting women or denigrating them

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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.

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