Sea Violet Quizzes

1 What religious sector were H.D.'s parents members of?

Moravian

Hasidic Judaism

Episcopalian

Catholic
2 Why did H.D. leave Bryn Mawr

Illness

Poor grades

Boredom

Affair with a professor
3 Where did H.D. meet Ezra Pound?

University of Pennsylvania

Childhood church

Bryn Mawr

Europe
4 What is a distinguishing quality of Imagist poetry?

Riddles

Disturbing imagery

Passive voice

Concise language
5 When did H.D.'s poems first appear in print?

1913

1916

1933

1924
6 Where did H.D. live in Europe long-term besides Britain?

Switzerland

Italy

Denmark

Germany
7 What is one form of writing H.D. used several times during her career?

Manifesto

Tribute

Play

Comedy
8 In what context did H.D.'s poetic style shift to longer, more elaborate work?

Discussions of her Freudian analysis

When she was in love

Explorations of Greek mythology

During both World Wars
9 Which one of these is one of H.D.'s published collections?

Flowers for Helen

Crouching Toward Bethlehem

The Usual Star

Egypt in Flames
10 Which long poem was considered one of H.D.'s greatest works?

The Chalice

Helen in Egypt

Dionysus

Morning Dew
11 What is agate?

A colorful, fine-grained stone

A type of rock found in Switzerland

A ruler of Egypt

A species of wildflower
12 Is the white violet the sea violet in the poem "Sea Violet"?

Both the blue violet and white violet are sea violets

Yes

No

There are three kinds of violets in the poem
13 What does the sea violet do, "fronting all the wind"?

Sways

Shifts

Lies

Flutters
14 What keeps the sea-violet company in "Sea Violet"?

Blue violets

Rolling hills

Torn shells

Sparse leaves
15 What tone does the speaker exhibit when describing the sea violet as "fragile," "fronting all the wind / among the torn shells"?

Contempt

Admiration

Sadness

Fear
16 What is ironic about H.D.'s use of "greater" in the phrase "The greater blue violets"?

She insinuates that blue represents evil

She doesn't actually believe the blue violets are greater

She feels the blue and white violets are equal

She knows white violets are larger by the sea
17 What effect does H.D.'s repetition of the phrase "who would change for these" have?

The phrase lulls the reader into submission

The speaker seems to stammer with fear

The question reminds one of the ocean

The question becomes a statement of powerful belief
18 What does H.D. feel is more valuable than many blue violets combined?

An ocean view

One root of a white violet

A garden of equality

A promise of stability
19 Why is the distinction between the words "fronting" and "flutter[ing]" important?

One violet is false and one is genuine

It evokes the word freedom

One action is brave and resilient and one is mild and passive

The distinction reveals the similarities between the two violets
20 In what stanza of "Sea Violet" does H.D. pose a similar query like the one in the last stanza of "Sea Rose"?

Fourth stanza

First stanza

Third stanza

Second stanza
21 Which violet does H.D. refer to directly in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?

The blue violet

All violets

The violet that stands out from blue and white violets

The white violet
22 Why is the frailty H.D. describes in "Sea Violet" different than the frailty expected of women in a patriarchal society?

The frailty of H.D. seeks to emphasize how women should not be expected to carry the burdens of men

The frailty reveals the hardship endured, and the strength in both survival and revealing vulnerability

The frailty expected of women in the patriarchy is a form of flattery, and H.D.'s frailty is a criticism

H.D. is talking about fragile masculinity
23 What effect does the switch to second person have in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?

The white violet becomes a separate, foreign identity

The reader feels sorry for the violet

2nd person allows H.D. to fully express her anger

The change evokes a sense of respect and allyship
24 What does H.D. mean when she writes "but you catch the light—" in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"

The sea violet is more beautiful than the blue violet

The sea violet is valuable in that it lights up the sandy bank

The sea violet is potent and radiant, despite its fragility

The sea violet combats the darkness
25 What does the reference to both "frost" and "fire" evoke in the last line of "Sea Violet"?

The fear women have of disintegration and physical harm

The dualities of the feminine spirit, as well as its intensity, splendor, and strength

The pros and cons of the sea violet, which is flawed but precious

The ambivalence men have about respecting women or denigrating them

Sea Violet

by H. D.

Sea Violet Quiz

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