The Convergence of the Twain Quizzes

The Convergence of the Twain Quiz

1 Why did Thomas Hardy write "The Convergence of the Twain"?
A poetry publisher commissioned the piece

For a charity benefit dedicated to victims of the Titanic

He wanted to attack the incompetent financiers behind the Titanic to provoke political change

He was simply moved to write the poem
2 Which of the following could best substitute for "stilly couches she" in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
She still relaxes there

She lies down, unmoving

She relaxes there, unmoving

She still lies there
3 After the Titanic sunk, about how long did Thomas Hardy take to write "The Convergence of the Twain"?
1 day

9 days

6 weeks

1 year
4 When is the first stanza set in relation to the sinking of the Titanic?
While the ship was sinking down towards the ocean floor

Sometime after the ship finished sinking

When the ship first collided with the Iceberg

When the passengers first boarded the ship
5 Which of the following is not a major conflict in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
Man vs. Nature

Pride of Life vs. Immanent Will

Life vs. Death

Vanity vs. Fate
6 Which of the following does NOT suggest that the speaker is comparing the Titanic and the iceberg to a bride and groom?
"paths coincident"

"a sinister mate"

"consummation comes"

"twin halves"
7 Where did Hardy grow up?
Scotland

Northern England

America

Southern England
8 Which of the following most closely approximates what the "Immanent Will" refers to?
A vengeful God

A loving God

The Greco-Roman gods

Fate
9 "On being anon twin halves of one august event" alludes to which classical text?
Sophocles's Antigone

Plato's Symposium

Aristotles's Poetics

Ovid's Metamorphoses
10 Which of the following is another name for the "Spinner of the Years"?
The "Immanent Will"

The Titanic

The "Pride of Life"

The "Shape of Ice"
11 Which literary device is the word "cleaving" an example of?
Metaphor

Synonym

Simile

Contronym
12 Which of the following phrases does NOT use metaphor?
"Alien they seemed to be"

"Dim moon-eyed fishes"

"Cold currents thrid, and turn to rhythmic tidal lyres."

"And consummation comes"
13 Which of the following best describes Hardy's religious affiliation?
Christian

Jewish

Atheist

Pagan
14 Which of the following is NOT an example of alliteration?
"grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent"

"Gaze at the gilded gear"

"Jewels in joy designed"

"And consummation comes"
15 Which of the following best approximates the meaning of "dissociate" in line 21?
unformed

unrelated

unaware

distant
16 Which of the following most strongly suggests the theme of human vanity in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
"The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything"

"No mortal eye could see"

"Jewels in joy designed"

"And as the smart ship grew"
17 Which of the following is Hardy MOST famous for writing, in addition to poetry?
Novels

Comics

Essays

Plays
18 Which of the following best describes the tone of "The Convergence of the Twain"?
Righteous

Resentful

Mournful

Detached
19 "Pride of Life" is an example of what literary device?
Contronym

Metaphor

Personification

Alliteration
20 Which of the following best approximates the meaning of "august" in line 30?
Impressive

Inevitable

Autumnal

Ill-fated
21 What is the rhyme scheme of "The Convergence of the Twain"?
ABC

AAB

AAA

ABB
22 Which of the following best approximates Hardy's attitude towards love and marriage in the poem?
Longing

Envious

Hateful

Cynical
23 Why is the word "grew" significant in line 22?
It makes a juxtaposition between ice and plants

It emphasizes that the ship was made of wood

It suggests that the ship was not really made by human beings

It suggests that the builders of the ship were not as important in it coming into being as they thought
24 Which of the following best describes the poem's attitude towards human vanity?
Human vanity is good because it allows for beautiful things like the Titanic

Human vanity is evil because it has the power to defy fate

Human vanity is tragic because it caused the sinking of the Titanic

Human vanity is empty because fate ultimately has all the power
25 What does the parallel between "stature, grace, and hue" and "shadow silent distance" suggest in stanza 8?
The iceberg is more difficult to describe than the Titanic

The impressive qualities of the Titanic were always countered by the danger of the iceberg

The iceberg was evil, while the Titanic was good

The iceberg and the Titanic were both dangerous

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The Convergence of the Twain study guide contains a biography of Thomas Hardy, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

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