a. The pronoun 'me' denotes the poet or the poem's speaker. b. The poet wishes to live year by year with a forward-looking, willing spirit: calm, unreluctant, not hurried, and ready to accept life's events.
a. 'Me' refers to the speaker/poet. b. He wants a steady, courageous, unhurried life — facing forward with an willing (unreluctant) soul, accepting whatever comes calmly.
a. The poet values measured, unhurried progress and a calm acceptance of life's pace. b. He advises against mourning what is transient or has disappeared (ephemeral possessions, past experiences).
a. He is not in a hurry because he prefers steady, purposeful progress and wants to enjoy the journey rather than rush to the end. b. One should not mourn transient things — losses and things that pass away.
a. It refers to the far-off past or earlier life. b. The poet states he does not hold back in fear of the future. c. One travels cheerfully by being wholehearted, accepting life's demands, and keeping courage and hope.
a. 'In the dim past' means the distant or remote past — memories and events long gone. b. No — the poet is not afraid of the future. c. By keeping a whole, happy heart, accepting the dues of youth and age (paying the toll), and maintaining courage and hope.
a. Life's path is variable — it winds up and down and can be rough or smooth. b. The journey should be a joyful one, maintained with cheer. c. The poet sought friendship, thrilling adventures and an achievement (a crown).
a. The way of life has ups and downs; it may wind up or down the hill and be rough or smooth. b. The journey should be joyful despite difficulties. c. As a boy he sought new friendship, high adventure and a crown (a prize/achievement).
a. The poet seeks a brave, resolute quest for his aims (friendship, adventure, reward). b. He hopes the ultimate turn in life's road will bring the best result.
a. A courageous, persevering quest — the pursuit of life's goals with bravery and determination. b. He hopes that the final stage of life's journey (the road's last turn) will be the best, showing optimism about the future outcome.
Line endings form rhyme pairs: fear (line 1) rhymes with cheer (line 4); whole (line 2) rhymes with toll (line 3).
The rhyming pairs are: 'fear' — 'cheer' and 'whole' — 'toll'.
Line endings: year (A), soul (B), goal (B), disappear (A) — so the rhyme pattern is ABBA.
Rhyme scheme: ABBA
Life is described as a continual quest to be faced calmly and courageously. The poet advises looking ahead, accepting losses, paying life's tolls, and maintaining hope and cheer through all changes. The focus remains on seeking friendship, adventure and a worthy goal, with optimism about the journey's end.
The poem presents life as a steady journey, with ups and downs, that should be lived without haste and without regret. The speaker urges a forward-looking, courageous attitude: not dwelling on the dim past nor fearing the veiled future. With a whole and happy heart one must pay the dues of youth and age and continue on cheerfully. Whether the road winds up or down, rough or smooth, the journey can be joyful. The poet continues to seek friendship, adventure and reward, hoping the final turn will be the best.
- A. youth to old age
- B. up or down the hill
- C. to hurry nor move away
- D. high adventure
- E. joyful
- F. mourn
- G. looking ahead
Filled passage: The poet wants to live his life looking ahead, willing to do something. He neither wants to hurry nor move away from his goal. He does not want to mourn the things he has lost, not hold back for fear of the future. He instead prefers to live his life with a whole and happy heart which cheerfully travels from youth to old age. Therefore, it does not matter to him whether the path goes up or down the hill, rough or smooth, the journey will be joyful. He will continue to seek what he wanted as a boy - new friendship, high adventure and a crown.
G; C; F; A; B; E; D