Question

from Questioning

Each struggle toward a clearer light,
Each noble impulse unto right
Makes struggle easy, effort grand;
Lo! when we seize with eager hand
The regal rose and meet the thorn,
We heed not though our flesh be torn.
For life's best joy may not all be
Intense delight though e'er so free
From hint of sorrow, but the calm
That soothes the spirit, like a psalm
Of benediction floating by,
In strains serenest caught on high.
(from "Questioning" by H. Cordelia Ray)
10
The proverb "Every rose has its thorn" means that anything good or beautiful also has a hurtful
or ugly side.
What does the allusion to this proverb in line 5 best help show in the poem?
1. If people work hard to act honorably, they will not feel the pain of rejection.
2. When people are feeling happy, they do not worry about how others are acting.
3. When people are doing the right thing, they do not care if they experience harm.
4. If people continually try to be good to each other, they will not encounter problems.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

3. When people are doing the right thing, they do not care if they experience harm.

The allusion to the proverb "Every rose has its thorn" in line 5 emphasizes the idea that embracing noble impulses and striving for clarity and righteousness may lead to pain or struggle, but it is worth enduring for the greater good. It suggests that even in the face of challenges or difficulties, it is important to continue on the path of doing what is right.