The Convergence of the Twain Quizzes

The Convergence of the Twain Quiz

1 Why did Thomas Hardy write "The Convergence of the Twain"?
For a charity benefit dedicated to victims of the Titanic

He was simply moved to write the poem

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

A poetry publisher commissioned the piece
2 Which of the following could best substitute for "stilly couches she" in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
She relaxes there, unmoving

She lies down, unmoving

She still relaxes there

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

6 weeks

1 year

9 days
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 passengers first boarded the ship

When the ship first collided with the Iceberg
5 Which of the following is not a major conflict in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
Pride of Life vs. Immanent Will

Vanity vs. Fate

Life vs. Death

Man vs. Nature
6 Which of the following does NOT suggest that the speaker is comparing the Titanic and the iceberg to a bride and groom?
"consummation comes"

"twin halves"

"paths coincident"

"a sinister mate"
7 Where did Hardy grow up?
Scotland

Southern England

Northern England

America
8 Which of the following most closely approximates what the "Immanent Will" refers to?
A loving God

The Greco-Roman gods

A vengeful God

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

Plato's Symposium

Ovid's Metamorphoses

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

The Titanic

The "Shape of Ice"

The "Pride of Life"
11 Which literary device is the word "cleaving" an example of?
Simile

Synonym

Contronym

Metaphor
12 Which of the following phrases does NOT use metaphor?
"Dim moon-eyed fishes"

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

"Alien they seemed to be"

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

Pagan

Christian

Jewish
14 Which of the following is NOT an example of alliteration?
"Jewels in joy designed"

"grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent"

"And consummation comes"

"Gaze at the gilded gear"
15 Which of the following best approximates the meaning of "dissociate" in line 21?
distant

unaware

unrelated

unformed
16 Which of the following most strongly suggests the theme of human vanity in "The Convergence of the Twain"?
"Jewels in joy designed"

"And as the smart ship grew"

"The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything"

"No mortal eye could see"
17 Which of the following is Hardy MOST famous for writing, in addition to poetry?
Novels

Comics

Plays

Essays
18 Which of the following best describes the tone of "The Convergence of the Twain"?
Mournful

Righteous

Detached

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

Metaphor

Alliteration

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

Autumnal

Inevitable

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

ABB

ABC

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

Hateful

Longing

Envious
23 Why is the word "grew" significant in line 22?
It suggests that the ship was not really made by human beings

It emphasizes that the ship was made of wood

It suggests that the builders of the ship were not as important in it coming into being as they thought

It makes a juxtaposition between ice and plants
24 Which of the following best describes the poem's attitude towards human vanity?
Human vanity is evil because it has the power to defy fate

Human vanity is good because it allows for beautiful things like the Titanic

Human vanity is empty because fate ultimately has all the power

Human vanity is tragic because it caused the sinking of the Titanic
25 What does the parallel between "stature, grace, and hue" and "shadow silent distance" suggest in stanza 8?
The iceberg was evil, while the Titanic was good

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

The iceberg and the Titanic were both dangerous

The iceberg is more difficult to describe than the Titanic

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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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