Dramatic Monologue and Stream of Consciousness in Poetry — Quiz
Question 9 • English III
There are many time references in "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock." Let us go then, you and I, When the evening is spread out against the sky Like a patient etherized upon a table; And seeing that it was a soft October night, Curled once about the house, and fell asleep. And the afternoon, the evening, sleeps so peacefully! Smoothed by long fingers, What is the most likely reason for Prufrock’s emphasis on the afternoon and evening hours?
Answer
A
He prefers to go out late in the day.
B
He is comparing the time of day to his progressing age.
C
He prefers to stay home late in the day.
D
He is comparing the daylight to his fear of being alone.
Explanation
Prufrock’s repeated references to afternoon and evening suggest more than a particular time of day. Evening often symbolizes the later part of life, and the image of the evening lying still and “asleep” supports a sense of decline and approaching old age. He is comparing the time of day to his progressing age, so B is the best answer.
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