Sound and Structure in Poems by Dylan Thomas and W. B. Yeats
Question 11 • 26-27 Ignite English 12 NG KY-English Language Arts 12
Read the excerpt from "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death."I balanced all, brought all to mind, The years to come seemed waste of breath, A waste of breath the years behind In balance with this life, this death.
Answer
A
The repeated words emphasize the speaker's desire to live and return to Ireland.
B
The repeated words highlight the idea that it doesn't matter whether he lives or dies.
C
The repeated words show that the speaker had a promising future ahead of him.
D
The repeated words reinforce the speaker's lack of emotional attachment to his homeland.
Explanation
The speaker weighs the years ahead against the years already lived and calls both “waste of breath.” This makes life and death seem equally insignificant to him, rather than expressing a desire to return home or excitement about the future. Choice B, that it doesn’t matter whether he lives or dies, best captures the repetition and balance.
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