“Mutability” and “A Defence of Poetry” by Percy Bysshe Shelley — Quiz
Question 3 • British Literature and Composition
Read the second stanza from "Mutability.” Or like forgotten lyres, whose dissonant strings Give various response to each varying blast, To whose frail frame no second motion brings One mood or modulation like the last. What is the effect of using the words dissonant and various to describe the sounds made by the lyre, a musical instrument?
Answer
A
They suggest a lack of control.
B
They suggest disagreement.
C
They emphasize imagination.
D
They emphasize differences.
Explanation
“Dissonant” means the sounds are not harmonious, and “various” means they differ. Together, these words emphasize how the lyre produces different, conflicting sounds in response to each blast. The best choice is “They emphasize differences.”
AI-written and checked against the verified answer.