Line-by-line MCQs from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

 

 Line-by-line MCQs from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

1. "It little profits that an idle king..."

What does Ulysses mean by “idle king”?

a) A retired king

b) A king who is not active or useful

c) A powerful ruler

d) A king loved by all

2. "By this still hearth, among these barren crags..."

What emotion does the phrase “still hearth” convey?

a) Peace

b) Boredom

c) Violence

d) Curiosity

3. "...matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole / Unequal laws unto a savage race..."

How does Ulysses describe his people?

a) Noble and kind

b) Wild and uncivilized

c) Wise and strong

d) Religious and generous

4. "That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me."

What criticism does Ulysses make here?

a) His people are too curious

b) His people live only for survival

c) His people love him

d) His people admire his past

5. "I cannot rest from travel..."

What does this line reveal about Ulysses?

a) He is tired of traveling

b) He seeks constant motion and discovery

c) He wants to rule again

d) He dislikes travel

6. "I will drink / Life to the lees..."

What does the phrase “drink life to the lees” suggest?

a) Wasting time

b) Living fully

c) Sleeping deeply

d) Escaping reality

7. "All times I have enjoyed / Greatly, have suffered greatly..."

What does this show about Ulysses’ past experiences?

a) They were joyful only

b) They were mixed with joy and pain

c) They were disappointing

d) He regrets them

8. "...both with those / That loved me, and alone..."

How does Ulysses view his companionship?

a) As unnecessary

b) As more important than solitude

c) Both togetherness and solitude matter to him

d) He prefers only solitude

9. "I am become a name..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He is unknown

b) He is now a legend or symbol

c) He has lost his memory

d) He is forgotten

10. "For always roaming with a hungry heart..."

What does “hungry heart” symbolize?

a) Desire for food

b) Desire for war

c) Longing for more experiences

d) Loneliness

Shall I continue with more line-by-line MCQs (11–20)?

11. "Much have I seen and known..."

What does this line suggest about Ulysses?

a) He is inexperienced

b) He values knowledge from travel

c) He is boastful

d) He regrets learning too much

12. "Cities of men / And manners, climates, councils, governments..."

What is Ulysses listing here?

a) Enemies he has conquered

b) Aspects of civilization he has encountered

c) Things he hates

d) Routines of Ithaca

13. "Myself not least, but honoured of them all..."

What does Ulysses claim about his reputation?

a) He was ignored

b) He was feared

c) He was honored

d) He was betrayed

14. "And drunk delight of battle with my peers..."

What does “drunk delight of battle” imply?

a) He avoided war

b) He was afraid of battle

c) He took pleasure in the thrill of battle

d) He regrets war

15. "Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy..."

What does this line refer to?

a) A peaceful land

b) The Trojan War

c) Ithaca

d) An imaginary place

16. "I am a part of all that I have met..."

What does Ulysses mean here?

a) He has changed others

b) He has been shaped by his experiences

c) He is isolated

d) He forgets the past

17. "Yet all experience is an arch wherethro’ / Gleams that untravelled world..."

What is experience compared to?

a) A mirror

b) A window

c) An arch

d) A tunnel

18. "Whose margin fades / Forever and forever when I move."

What does this suggest about exploration?

a) It has an end

b) It always remains mysterious

c) It is dangerous

d) It is dull

19. "How dull it is to pause, to make an end..."

How does Ulysses feel about stopping?

a) Relieved

b) Content

c) Frustrated and bored

d) Satisfied

20. "To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!"

What is the implied metaphor here?

a) A sword that must be used

b) A boat ready to sail

c) A crown that sparkles

d) A shield in battle

Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

21. "As though to breathe were life!"

What idea is challenged in this line?

a) Breathing brings happiness

b) Mere existence is not true living

c) Life is easy

d) Death is near

22. "Life piled on life / Were all too little..."

What is Ulysses expressing here?

a) One lifetime is enough

b) Life is a burden

c) Even many lifetimes wouldn’t satisfy his desire for experience

d) He wants to be immortal

23. "And vile it were / For some three suns to store and hoard myself..."

What does “vile” suggest here?

a) Evil

b) Honorable

c) Shameful to waste time

d) Joyful

24. "This gray spirit yearning in desire..."

What does “gray spirit” symbolize?

a) A ghost

b) An old man with fading energy but deep longing

c) A peaceful mind

d) Death

25. "To follow knowledge like a sinking star..."

What literary device is used here?

a) Simile

b) Hyperbole

c) Irony

d) Metaphor

26. "Beyond the utmost bound of human thought."

What does Ulysses aim for?

a) Comfort

b) Safety

c) Exploration of the unknown

d) Wealth

27. "This is my son, mine own Telemachus..."

How does Ulysses refer to his son?

a) As his equal

b) With doubt

c) With ownership and pride

d) Without emotion

28. "To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle..."

What does Ulysses intend for Telemachus?

a) War and conquest

b) A place to rule

c) Travel and adventure

d) Rebellion

29. "Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil / This labour..."

What quality of Telemachus is praised here?

a) Strength

b) Loyalty

c) Wisdom and judgment

d) Bravery

30. "Blameless, decent, not to fail..."

Which of the following best describes Telemachus?

a) Lazy

b) Fierce

c) Responsible and proper

d) Wild

31. "He works his work, I mine."

What does Ulysses mean by this line?

a) He is abandoning his duties

b) Telemachus’s work is more important

c) He acknowledges that they have different roles

d) They both do the same work

32. "I am a part of all that I have met..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He is unaffected by the people he meets

b) He has learned and been shaped by everyone and everything he encounters

c) He has forgotten his past

d) He is defined by others’ opinions

33. "This is my son, mine own Telemachus, / To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle."

What is being handed down to Telemachus?

a) A kingdom

b) A ship

c) Power and responsibility as ruler

d) A treasure

34. "And I would choose / To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths / Of all the western stars..."

What is Ulysses describing here?

a) A final resting place

b) A quest to discover unknown lands

c) A peaceful retirement

d) A glorious battle

35. "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What does this line represent?

a) Surrender to fate

b) Perseverance and relentless pursuit

c) The end of a journey

d) Living for material wealth

36. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) His crew will live forever

b) They may die on their journey

c) They will never find land

d) The journey will be easy

37. "But strong in will, / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What is Ulysses’s attitude towards his journey?

a) Defeatist

b) Full of uncertainty

c) Resolute and determined

d) Fearful of the unknown

38. "Tho' much is taken, much abides..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He has lost everything

b) Despite losses, much of value remains

c) He cannot move forward

d) He regrets his past

39. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What is Ulysses acknowledging here?

a) The end of his journey

b) The weakness of old age

c) The loss of his kingdom

d) The passage of time and aging

40. "That which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts..."

What does Ulysses express here?

a) His crew has lost their spirit

b) He is resigned to his fate

c) He and his crew are still heroic despite age

d) He is alone in his desire

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31. "He works his work, I mine."

What does Ulysses mean by this line?

a) He is abandoning his duties

b) Telemachus’s work is more important

c) He acknowledges that they have different roles

d) They both do the same work

32. "I am a part of all that I have met..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He is unaffected by the people he meets

b) He has learned and been shaped by everyone and everything he encounters

c) He has forgotten his past

d) He is defined by others’ opinions

33. "This is my son, mine own Telemachus, / To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle."

What is being handed down to Telemachus?

a) A kingdom

b) A ship

c) Power and responsibility as ruler

d) A treasure

34. "And I would choose / To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths / Of all the western stars..."

What is Ulysses describing here?

a) A final resting place

b) A quest to discover unknown lands

c) A peaceful retirement

d) A glorious battle

35. "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What does this line represent?

a) Surrender to fate

b) Perseverance and relentless pursuit

c) The end of a journey

d) Living for material wealth

36. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) His crew will live forever

b) They may die on their journey

c) They will never find land

d) The journey will be easy

37. "But strong in will, / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What is Ulysses’s attitude towards his journey?

a) Defeatist

b) Full of uncertainty

c) Resolute and determined

d) Fearful of the unknown

38. "Tho' much is taken, much abides..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He has lost everything

b) Despite losses, much of value remains

c) He cannot move forward

d) He regrets his past

39. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What is Ulysses acknowledging here?

a) The end of his journey

b) The weakness of old age

c) The loss of his kingdom

d) The passage of time and aging

40. "That which we are, we are; / One equal temper of heroic hearts..."

What does Ulysses express here?

a) His crew has lost their spirit

b) He is resigned to his fate

c) He and his crew are still heroic despite age

d) He is alone in his desire

41. "Old age hath yet his honour and his toil."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) Old age brings only weakness

b) Even in old age, one can still have purpose and honor

c) Old age is a time of rest

d) Old age is to be feared

42. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What does this imagery represent?

a) The coming of dawn

b) A peaceful, calm evening in Ithaca

c) The beginning of a journey

d) The transition from day to night

43. "The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs..."

What effect does this imagery of time passing create?

a) A sense of urgency

b) A feeling of calm and reflection

c) A sense of timelessness

d) A dramatic event

44. "And the waves of the sea / Are their voice in the murmurs they make..."

What is the purpose of the sea imagery in this line?

a) To describe the tranquility of Ithaca

b) To reflect Ulysses’s yearning for the sea and adventure

c) To warn of an incoming storm

d) To symbolize the end of life

45. "Come, my friends, / 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

What does Ulysses encourage his companions to do?

a) Accept their fate and settle down

b) Embark on one final journey of exploration

c) Retreat into their homes

d) Rest and recover from their past travels

46. "Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows..."

What does this suggest about Ulysses's crew?

a) They are unprepared

b) They are excited for a new adventure

c) They have abandoned their ships

d) They are exhausted and unwilling

47. "For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset..."

What is Ulysses’s ultimate goal?

a) To find treasure

b) To return home

c) To explore the world until his death

d) To be honored in Ithaca

48. "And the baths of all the western stars..."

What does "the baths of the western stars" symbolize?

a) A destination in the east

b) A place of peace and rest

c) The end of the world and the unknown beyond

d) A mythical land

49. "Until I die..."

What does this line indicate about Ulysses’s resolve?

a) He has given up on his quest

b) He will not stop seeking adventure until his death

c) He is ready to rest

d) He has no desire for life anymore

50. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is Ulysses acknowledging here?

a) They will be victorious

b) They may not survive the journey

c) They will return home triumphantly

d) They will find the afterlife

51. "But strong in will, / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What does the phrase "strong in will" suggest about Ulysses?

a) He is weak and helpless

b) He is determined to persevere

c) He is afraid of the unknown

d) He is passive and resigned

52. "We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What does Ulysses mean by this?

a) He is stronger than ever

b) His strength has diminished with age

c) He no longer needs strength

d) His strength has been replaced by wisdom

53. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is Ulysses willing to accept here?

a) Victory

b) The possibility of failure or death

c) A safe journey

d) Immediate return home

54. "But we are not too old to do great deeds..."

What does Ulysses imply about old age?

a) It prevents heroism

b) Heroic deeds are still possible despite aging

c) Old age brings only rest

d) Old age is a punishment

55. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What do the "lights" symbolize in this context?

a) The beginning of a journey

b) Hope and life in Ithaca

c) The end of Ulysses’s quest

d) The coming of the storm

56. "Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

What is Ulysses’s invitation to his crew?

a) To return home

b) To abandon the quest

c) To explore new horizons before it’s too late

d) To rest and prepare for future journeys

57. "Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows..."

What does "smiting the sounding furrows" imply about the crew’s actions?

a) They are passive and waiting

b) They are actively sailing and setting out

c) They are hesitant to begin the journey

d) They are preparing to fight

58. "For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset..."

What is Ulysses’s purpose in this line?

a) To sail to Ithaca

b) To discover new lands until the end of his life

c) To reach the afterlife

d) To return to his family

59. "And the baths of all the western stars..."

What is meant by "the baths of all the western stars"?

a) A place of peace and eternal rest

b) A place where the sun sets, signifying the end of his journey

c) A land he hopes to conquer

d) A mythical place beyond the horizon

60. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is the significance of the "gulfs" in this line?

a) They are an obstacle that might prevent their journey

b) They symbolize the strength of the crew

c) They represent the unknown regions Ulysses hopes to explore

d) They will guide the crew to their destination

61. "It may be we shall touch the happy Isles..."

What is the "happy Isles" referring to?

a) A new land Ulysses wants to discover

b) A peaceful, mythical place where the blessed souls reside

c) A place where Ulysses and his crew can rest

d) A famous island near Ithaca

62. "The blessed Isles of the heroes..."

What does "the blessed Isles" represent?

a) A place where heroes are honored after death

b) A place where Ulysses and his crew will be crowned

c) A kingdom of peace

d) A battlefield where Ulysses fought

63. "We are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What does this line reflect?

a) Ulysses’s nostalgia for his younger, more powerful self

b) A reflection on the strength of his youth

c) The loss of his empire

d) His wisdom in old age

64. "To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths / Of all the western stars..."

What is the metaphor of "sailing beyond the sunset"?

a) Achieving something impossible

b) Seeking an unreachable goal

c) Returning home

d) Moving into a peaceful life

65. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What does Ulysses acknowledge about his crew here?

a) They are weaker and older, but still capable of great deeds

b) They have become stronger with age

c) They are no longer willing to fight

d) They are ready to return home

66. "That which we are, we are..."

What is Ulysses implying by this?

a) He regrets who he has become

b) He is content with his identity and purpose

c) He is confused about his life

d) He no longer feels like a hero

67. "One equal temper of heroic hearts..."

What does this suggest about Ulysses and his crew?

a) They are unequal in spirit

b) They share the same heroic determination, despite age

c) They have lost their courage

d) They are focused only on survival

68. "Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will / To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."

What is Ulysses’s perspective on aging?

a) Time and fate have defeated him

b) Despite aging, he remains determined to pursue his goals

c) He wishes to rest

d) He believes that age should stop him from seeking adventure

69. "For we are the same men we always were..."

What does Ulysses assert about his crew?

a) They have changed beyond recognition

b) They are the same heroic men, despite aging

c) They are no longer brave

d) They have become weaker

70. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What does the imagery of "twinkling lights" suggest?

a) A dark and dangerous future

b) The peaceful end of the journey

c) The final departure for adventure

d) The beginning of a storm

71. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What do the "twinkling lights" symbolize?

a) The approach of dawn

b) The peaceful return to Ithaca

c) A sign of hope and a reminder of home

d) The start of a new journey

72. "The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs..."

What does the imagery of the "long day" and "slow moon" convey?

a) Time is passing quickly

b) The coming of night and the passage of time

c) The uncertainty of the journey

d) The moment of victory

73. "And the waves of the sea / Are their voice in the murmurs they make..."

What does Ulysses hear in the sea’s murmurs?

a) The call of home

b) A warning of danger

c) A promise of rest

d) The ongoing challenges and mysteries of the world

74. "Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world."

What does Ulysses mean by "a newer world"?

a) A peaceful life in Ithaca

b) A place to rest from their travels

c) An unknown and adventurous land beyond the horizon

d) A return to their past glory

75. "Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows..."

What does the phrase "smiting the sounding furrows" imply?

a) The crew is hesitating to sail

b) They are vigorously and confidently setting off into the sea

c) They are preparing to face a storm

d) They are simply waiting for the right time to sail

76. "For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset..."

What is Ulysses’s purpose in life?

a) To return to Ithaca and settle down

b) To explore the world and seek adventure until death

c) To rule his people with wisdom

d) To find peace and rest in old age

77. "And the baths of all the western stars..."

What does "the baths of the western stars" symbolize?

a) A place of great peace and reward for the heroic

b) A new land discovered by Ulysses

c) A place where all the heroes go after death

d) A final destination for all men who strive for greatness

78. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is Ulysses acknowledging about his journey?

a) He is confident in their success

b) They might face death or failure along the way

c) The journey will be easy and safe

d) They will find immediate success

79. "But we are not too old to do great deeds..."

What is Ulysses saying about age?

a) Old age is a hindrance to great achievements

b) Despite their old age, they can still perform heroic deeds

c) They are too weak to do anything now

d) Age has made them wise and restful

80. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What does the imagery of the "twinkling lights" suggest?

a) The end of their journey

b) The beauty of Ithaca at night

c) A final call to adventure

d) A peaceful, calm end to their quest

Here are line-by-line MCQs (81–90) from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson:

81. "The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs..."

What does the phrase "the slow moon climbs" suggest?

a) Time is passing quickly

b) The moon’s steady movement symbolizes the passage of time

c) The moon will soon set

d) The night is about to end

82. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What is the significance of the "lights" mentioned here?

a) They represent the end of Ulysses's journey

b) They symbolize the beginning of a new adventure

c) They signify the quiet, peaceful life in Ithaca

d) They signal the beginning of a storm

83. "The waves of the sea / Are their voice in the murmurs they make..."

What does the imagery of the sea’s murmurs represent?

a) A warning of an incoming storm

b) The sea calling Ulysses to return home

c) The mysteries and challenges of the world still to be explored

d) The calmness and serenity of the night

84. "Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows..."

What is Ulysses urging his crew to do here?

a) Rest and wait for better conditions

b) Prepare for an attack from enemies

c) Set sail, facing the challenges ahead

d) Return to Ithaca for safety

85. "For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset..."

What does Ulysses’s purpose reflect about his attitude toward life?

a) He seeks peace and quiet in his old age

b) He wants to return to his past glory

c) He is determined to seek adventure until his final days

d) He is prepared to settle down at last

86. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is Ulysses prepared to face on this journey?

a) The possibility of failure or death

b) A safe and peaceful return

c) The ultimate victory over his enemies

d) The certainty of success

87. "But we are not too old to do great deeds..."

What is Ulysses’s belief about aging and heroism?

a) Age prevents heroic deeds

b) Despite age, they can still achieve greatness

c) Only the young can be heroes

d) Old age means retirement from adventure

88. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What does Ulysses reflect on regarding his strength?

a) He is still as powerful as in his youth

b) His strength has diminished but he remains determined

c) His strength is irrelevant now

d) He has lost all strength and power

89. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What effect does this image have on the tone of the poem?

a) It creates a sense of calm and peace

b) It adds to the sense of urgency

c) It heightens the tension in the poem

d) It signifies the end of the journey and the hero’s return

90. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What is the significance of this line?

a) It highlights Ulysses’s regret for lost strength

b) It shows Ulysses’s acceptance of his aging and limitations

c) It represents Ulysses’s wish to return to the past

d) It emphasizes the continuing power of the crew

81. "The long day wanes, the slow moon climbs..."

What does the phrase "the slow moon climbs" suggest?

a) Time is passing quickly

b) The moon’s steady movement symbolizes the passage of time

c) The moon will soon set

d) The night is about to end

82. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What is the significance of the "lights" mentioned here?

a) They represent the end of Ulysses's journey

b) They symbolize the beginning of a new adventure

c) They signify the quiet, peaceful life in Ithaca

d) They signal the beginning of a storm

83. "The waves of the sea / Are their voice in the murmurs they make..."

What does the imagery of the sea’s murmurs represent?

a) A warning of an incoming storm

b) The sea calling Ulysses to return home

c) The mysteries and challenges of the world still to be explored

d) The calmness and serenity of the night

84. "Push off, and sitting well in order smite / The sounding furrows..."

What is Ulysses urging his crew to do here?

a) Rest and wait for better conditions

b) Prepare for an attack from enemies

c) Set sail, facing the challenges ahead

d) Return to Ithaca for safety

85. "For my purpose holds / To sail beyond the sunset..."

What does Ulysses’s purpose reflect about his attitude toward life?

a) He seeks peace and quiet in his old age

b) He wants to return to his past glory

c) He is determined to seek adventure until his final days

d) He is prepared to settle down at last

86. "It may be that the gulfs will wash us down..."

What is Ulysses prepared to face on this journey?

a) The possibility of failure or death

b) A safe and peaceful return

c) The ultimate victory over his enemies

d) The certainty of success

87. "But we are not too old to do great deeds..."

What is Ulysses’s belief about aging and heroism?

a) Age prevents heroic deeds

b) Despite age, they can still achieve greatness

c) Only the young can be heroes

d) Old age means retirement from adventure

88. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What does Ulysses reflect on regarding his strength?

a) He is still as powerful as in his youth

b) His strength has diminished but he remains determined

c) His strength is irrelevant now

d) He has lost all strength and power

89. "The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks..."

What effect does this image have on the tone of the poem?

a) It creates a sense of calm and peace

b) It adds to the sense of urgency

c) It heightens the tension in the poem

d) It signifies the end of the journey and the hero’s return

90. "And though we are not now that strength which in old days / Moved earth and heaven..."

What is the significance of this line?

a) It highlights Ulysses’s regret for lost strength

b) It shows Ulysses’s acceptance of his aging and limitations

c) It represents Ulysses’s wish to return to the past

d) It emphasizes the continuing power of the crew

Would you like to proceed with 91–100?