A Psalm of Life

What is the speaker’s main message in “A Psalm of Life”?

• Life is meaningless
• We should live fully and purposefully
• People should fear death
• Time heals all wounds

What does the poet mean by “mournful numbers”?

• Sad poems or pessimistic thoughts
• A group of grieving people
• Funeral hymns
• Biblical commandments

Which literary device is used in “footprints on the sands of time”?

• Simile
• Hyperbole
• Metaphor
• Personification

How does the speaker view death?

• As a peaceful end
• As something to fear
• As the goal of life
• As natural but not the purpose of life

Which of these best describes the tone of the poem?

• Sarcastic
• Hopeful
• Regretful
• Indifferent

According to the poem, what should we do with each day?

• Wait for fate to unfold
• Live passively
• Act and strive with purpose
• Focus only on the past

What image does the speaker use to suggest legacy?

• A burning candle
• A tree with deep roots
• Footprints on sand
• A book left open

What type of poem is “A Psalm of Life”?

• Narrative
• Elegy
• Lyric
• Epic

What does “bivouac of life” suggest?

• A long, steady journey
• A peaceful village
• A temporary camp or stop
• A place of celebration

What does the line “Let us, then, be up and doing” suggest?

• We should go on a trip
• We should act with energy and purpose
• We should sleep and rest
• We should accept failure