Sea Violet Quizzes

Sea Violet Quiz

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

Catholic

Episcopalian

Hasidic Judaism
2 Why did H.D. leave Bryn Mawr
Boredom

Illness

Affair with a professor

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

Childhood church

Europe

University of Pennsylvania
4 What is a distinguishing quality of Imagist poetry?
Riddles

Concise language

Disturbing imagery

Passive voice
5 When did H.D.'s poems first appear in print?
1916

1913

1933

1924
6 Where did H.D. live in Europe long-term besides Britain?
Denmark

Italy

Germany

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

Play

Manifesto

Comedy
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

Egypt in Flames

Flowers for Helen

The Usual Star
10 Which long poem was considered one of H.D.'s greatest works?
The Chalice

Helen in Egypt

Morning Dew

Dionysus
11 What is agate?
A type of rock found in Switzerland

A colorful, fine-grained stone

A ruler of Egypt

A species of wildflower
12 Is the white violet the sea violet in the poem "Sea Violet"?
No

Yes

There are three kinds of violets in the poem

Both the blue violet and white violet are sea violets
13 What does the sea violet do, "fronting all the wind"?
Lies

Shifts

Sways

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

Rolling hills

Torn shells

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

Sadness

Fear

Contempt
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 insinuates that blue represents evil

She knows white violets are larger by the sea

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 speaker seems to stammer with fear

The question becomes a statement of powerful belief

The phrase lulls the reader into submission

The question reminds one of the ocean
18 What does H.D. feel is more valuable than many blue violets combined?
An ocean view

A promise of stability

A garden of equality

One root of a white violet
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

The distinction reveals the similarities between the two violets

It evokes the word freedom

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"?
Third stanza

Second stanza

Fourth stanza

First 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 blue violet

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?
H.D. is talking about fragile masculinity

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

The frailty of H.D. seeks to emphasize how women should not be expected to carry the burdens of men

The frailty expected of women in the patriarchy is a form of flattery, and H.D.'s frailty is a criticism
23 What effect does the switch to second person have in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?
2nd person allows H.D. to fully express her anger

The reader feels sorry for the violet

The white violet becomes a separate, foreign identity

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 potent and radiant, despite its fragility

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

The fear women have of disintegration and physical harm

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…