Poetry Comprehension Practice Test 21

Success Is Counted Sweetest
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of victory.
As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

-Emily Dickinson

1. Name the poetic device used in “Success is counted sweetest/By those who never succeed”.
(1) Simile
(2) Irony
(3) Metaphor
(4) Exaggeration

Ans. 3

2. “To comprehend a nectar/Requires sorest need. Here ‘nectar’ stands for
(1) heavenly drink
(2) happiness
(3) goal
(4) information

Ans. 2

3. In the poem, “purple Host” refers to a person who
(1) wears purple garments
(2) acts as a host of a party
(3) achieves victory
(4) enjoys a high rank

Ans. 3

4. The poem emphasises the superiority of
(1) success to defeat.
(2) material prosperity to poverty.
(3) defeat to victory.
(4) chance to hard work.

Ans. 3

5. This poem deals with the law of ………….
(1) compensation
(2) justice
(3) irony
(4) conflict

Ans. 1

6. In the poem, ‘flag’ symbolises ___.
(1) a nation
(3) victory
(2) a uniqueness
(4) courage