Question

The music in my heart I bore, / Long after it was heard no more." So says :

• A. Percy Bysshe Shelley
• B. W.B. Yeats
• C. William Wordsworth
• D. S.T . Coleridge

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley: A Romantic Poet

• The lines "The music in my heart I bore, / Long after it was heard no more" are from the poem 'Music When Soft Voices Die' by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
• Shelley (1792-1822) was one of the major English Romantic poets, alongside his contemporaries like Lord Byron, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and William Wordsworth.
• He is renowned for his lyrical poetry, which often explores themes of nature, love, freedom, and the pursuit of ideals.
• 'Music When Soft Voices Die' is a short, poignant lyric that speaks to the enduring power of memory and emotion, even after the sensory experience has passed. The 'music' here can be interpreted as the memory of beautiful sounds, love, or inspiration.
• Key Works: Some of Shelley's most famous works include 'Ode to the West Wind', 'To a Skylark', 'The Cloud', and the longer narrative poems 'Queen Mab' and 'The Revolt of Islam'.
• Romantic Era Context: The Romantic period (roughly late 18th to mid-19th century) emphasized emotion, individualism, imagination, and the beauty of nature, all of which are central to Shelley's poetry.
• Literary Significance: Shelley's innovative use of language, his passionate advocacy for social and political change, and his profound philosophical inquiries have made him a significant figure in English literature.

Exam Relevance

• Poem Identification: Competitive exams often test the ability to identify famous lines with their respective poets. This question directly assesses that skill.
• Romantic Poets: Understanding the major poets of the Romantic era and their characteristic themes and styles is crucial for literature-based exams.
• Key Poems: Familiarity with the titles and central ideas of canonical poems like 'Music When Soft Voices Die' is often required.