Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Our little lives are kept in equipoise By opposite attractions and desires; The struggle of the instinct that enjoys, And the more noble instinct that aspires.

1. Whose lives are being referred to in Line 1? (Understanding and Analysis)
2. What brings about balance in our short lives? (Analysis)
3. Explain the last two lines of the extract. (Analysis)
4. State what fills our life with anxieties and fears, later in the poem. (Understanding)
5. Which bridge of light is referred to here? What is its purpose? (Analysis)

Answer 1

1. The lives being referred to in Line 1 (“Our little lives”) are human lives, the lives of living people.
2. The poet says that balance in our short lives is created by our different wishes and desires. These opposite feelings help keep our life balanced.
3. The last two lines explain that people have two opposite feelings. One is the desire for pleasure and enjoyment, while the other is the desire to become better and achieve higher goals. These two feelings create a balance in our lives.
4. Later in the poem, the poet says that our worries, problems, and the struggle between our needs and dreams may be influenced by unseen forces. These hidden powers affect our thoughts and feelings.
5. The ‘bridge of light’ is a symbol of the connection between the human world and the spirit world. It is like a path made by moonlight that allows our thoughts and imagination to reach the unknown and mysterious world.