Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Classic Quiz: The American Poets—and Remember: No Cheating!

No Computer Tricks or Looking Up (I’m Trusting You!)

1. Who wrote the classic first line of the poem: This is the forest primeval.? And the name of the poem?
2.
3. This is an American politician who was nevertheless a literary master. Tell me who he was and what was the circumstances of this speech?

My Friends: No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.


4. Here is not the beginning but the middle of a world-famous poem. What is its title? And author?

“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil—prophet still, if bird or devil!— By that Heaven that bends above us—by that God we both adore—Tell this soul with sorrow laden, if, within the distant Aidenn,

It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore—Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name “Lenore”!

2 comments:

  1. 1- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Evangeline."
    2- Blank
    3- Got me. Bubba Clinton?
    4- Edgar Allen Poe, "The Raven."

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  2. I agree with Frank about Longfellow being the source of the first item, but I'm not certain it's from "Evangeline".

    The "sadness at this parting" is from Lincoln upon leaving Springfield for DC.

    And, yes, the last excerpt is by Poe from "The Raven".

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