“Musee des Beaux Arts” Language & Comprehension

How does the use of figurative language in the poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden contribute to the overall mood?

• It creates a mood of excitement and anticipation.

• It establishes a mood of indifference and detachment.

• It evokes a mood of joy and celebration.

• It sets a mood of fear and anxiety.

Paraphrase the following lines from the poem: "In Breughel's Icarus, for instance: how everything turns away / Quite leisurely from the disaster."

• In Breughel's painting, everyone is rushing to help Icarus.

• In Breughel's painting, people are calmly ignoring the tragedy.

• In Breughel's painting, the disaster is the main focus.

• In Breughel's painting, Icarus is flying high in the sky.

What is the connotative meaning of the word "martyrdom" in the context of the poem?

• A joyful event

• A significant sacrifice

• A minor inconvenience

• A routine task

What inference can be made about the ploughman's reaction to Icarus's fall in the poem?

• The ploughman is deeply concerned about Icarus.

• The ploughman is unaware of Icarus's fall.

• The ploughman is indifferent to Icarus's fall.

• The ploughman is excited by Icarus's fall.

Cite evidence from the poem that supports the idea that life goes on despite individual suffering.

• "The Old Masters: how well they understood"

• "The sun shone as it had to on the white legs disappearing into the green"

• "For the miraculous birth, there always must be"

• "Children who did not specially want it to happen"

Analyze how the imagery of "dogs go on with their doggy life" contributes to the poem's mood.

• It adds a sense of chaos and disorder.

• It highlights the normalcy amidst tragedy.

• It creates a feeling of suspense.

• It evokes a sense of joy and playfulness.

Paraphrase the meaning of "the expensive delicate ship that must have seen / Something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky."

• The ship is too far away to notice anything.

• The ship is focused on its journey and ignores the fall.

• The ship is amazed by the boy's flight.

• The ship is sinking due to the boy's fall.

Determine the denotative meaning of the word "forsaken" in the context of the poem.

• Abandoned

• Celebrated

• Protected

• Ignored

What inference can be made about the children skating on a pond in the poem?

• They are eagerly awaiting the miraculous birth.

• They are unaware of the significant events happening around them.

• They are actively participating in the miraculous birth.

• They are causing the miraculous birth to happen.

Cite evidence from the poem that illustrates the theme of indifference to suffering.

• "The Old Masters: how well they understood"

• "Where the dogs go on with their doggy life"

• "For the miraculous birth, there always must be"

• "Children who did not specially want it to happen"