Question

What does "their sober wishes never learn'd to stray" imply about the villagers?

• A. They were constantly seeking adventure and excitement.
• B. They were content with their simple lives
• C. They were unhappy and wished for more wealth and status.
• D. They often dreamed of moving to the city for a better life.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. They were content with their simple lives

• "Sober wishes" suggests modest, reasonable desires, rather than grand ambitions.

• "Never learn’d to stray" means that their aspirations never drifted towards material wealth or urban life.

• This reinforces the theme of humility and peaceful rural existence, contrasting with the "madding crowd's ignoble strife" (the chaos and ambition of city life).