Hi Everyone!! This article will share Blind Louise Questions & Answers.
This poem is written by George Washington Dewey. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of A Matter Of Time, A Tale Of Two Cities and The Power Of Music so, you can check these posts as well.
Blind Louise Questions & Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct option:
1. Louise knew that she was growing __________.
(a) deaf
(b) old
(c) blind
2. Her ailment has been imagined as an ______________ in the first stanza.
(a) eclipse
(b) dreary night
(c) summer day
3. The line ‘a spectral realm of snows’ has an instance of _____________.
(a) simile
(b) personification
(c) metaphor
4. The line ‘She’d rather that the verdure left/An evergreen to shine/Within her heart means ______________.
(a) she wanted nature’s beauty to remain as an everlasting memory within her heart
(b) she wanted evergreen trees to shine within her heart
(c) she wanted evergreen trees to be verdant
5. Louise’s wish was fulfilled in the month of __________.
(a) December
(b) May
(c) March
6. She was found seated in her __________ place.
(a) desired
(b) hidden
(c) accustomed
Question 2: Read the lines and answer the questions:
1. Yet never did she make complaint,
But prayed each day might bring…
(a) Who is referred to as ‘she’ in the given lines? What was the reason why she could have complained?
Answer: Louise is referred to as ‘she’ here. She could have complained about the unfairness of life that her eyesight was gradually fading.
(b) What, related to her condition, could she foresee?
Answer: She could foresee that soon she would become completely blind, and her world would be like a starless dreary night.
(c) What did she pray for?
Answer: She prayed that she could see the beautiful sights of spring before she became totally blind.
2. She dreaded that eclipse which might
Perpetually enclose…
(a) Which ‘eclipse’ is being referred to here? Identify and explain the figure of speech used by the poet.
Answer: The ‘eclipse’ here refers to Louise’s loss of sight. This is a metaphor where the poet compares the darkness caused by blindness with that caused by an eclipse.
(b) What does the poet mean by the phrase ‘perpetually enclose’?
Answer: The phrase ‘perpetually enclose’ is used to highlight the fact that Louise would be permanently surrounded by darkness once she became completely blind.
(c) What did she fear that the ‘eclipse’ would enclose?
Answer: She feared that the ‘eclipse’ would leave her with sad memories of a leafless world.
(d) Why did she fear this happening?
Answer: She feared that she might go blind before the arrival of spring, and the last images in her mind would be that of a spectral realm of snow in winter.
(e) What would she prefer to have instead?
Answer: She would prefer to have memories of the lush greenery of spring and summer in her heart instead.
Blind Louise Questions & Answers
3. We found her seated, as of old,
In her accustomed place,
A midnight in her sightless eyes,
And morn upon her face!
(a) Which expressions in this stanza tell us that she was found at her usual place?
Answer: The expressions ‘as of old’ and ‘accustomed place’ tell us that she was at her usual place.
(b) What is said about her vision? What is the significance of the word ‘midnight’? Identify the figure of speech in the use of the word.
Answer: Her vision was completely gone by then, as described by the phrase ‘sightless eyes’. The word ‘midnight’ signifies the complete darkness that descends on Louise after she goes fully blind. This is a metaphor.
(c) How does the poem end on a hopeful note?
Answer: The poem ends on a hopeful note as Louise does get her wish fulfilled of having seen the springtime flowers before she lost her vision. So even though the midnight of darkness descends on her ‘sightless eyes’, the bright spring sun shines on her face, giving her hope to live life in happiness and dignity, overcoming her handicap.
Question 3: Why do you think Louise never complained? What does this tell us about her nature?
Answer: Louise never complained about her situation because she knew that her blindness was unavoidable. This tells us that she had the courage to accept harsh reality and decide to live life as best as possible, without letting her handicap affect her spirit.
Question 4: The poem uses similes and metaphors to describe the, seasons, and Louise’s wish to remember them. Identify and explain them in your own words.
Answer: The metaphors used in the poem are:
Dreary night: the condition of being blind is compared to the deep darkness of a starless night
Eclipse: the gradual darkness of fading eyesight is compared to that brought on by an eclipse
Spectral realm of snows: the white winter landscape is compared to a ghostly kingdom of snow
Midnight: the darkness of blindness is compared to that of midnight
Morn: the bright morning sunrays are compared to the glow of hope
‘As summer leaves its memory on the pine’ is a simile, where the poet compares the everlasting memory left by nature’s greenery in Louise’s heart to summer’s impact on evergreen pines.
Question 5: How is Louise’s wish fulfilled? What lesson do you learn from the way the poem ends?
Answer: Louise’s wish is fulfilled when she gets to see the springtime beauty of nature before completely losing her vision. Her fear of going blind during the winter months is also allayed, as she has the memories of greenery in her heart as solace, even when she cannot see anymore. We learn the lesson of courage and acceptance from the way the poem ends. We also realize the power of hope which can work miracles and make our wishes come true.
So, these were Blind Louise Questions & Answers.