Sea Violet Quizzes

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

Moravian

Catholic

Episcopalian

Hasidic Judaism
2 Why did H.D. leave Bryn Mawr

Illness

Affair with a professor

Boredom

Poor grades
3 Where did H.D. meet Ezra Pound?

Bryn Mawr

University of Pennsylvania

Childhood church

Europe
4 What is a distinguishing quality of Imagist poetry?

Passive voice

Riddles

Concise language

Disturbing imagery
5 When did H.D.'s poems first appear in print?

1924

1933

1916

1913
6 Where did H.D. live in Europe long-term besides Britain?

Germany

Denmark

Italy

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

Manifesto

Tribute

Comedy

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

Explorations of Greek mythology

When she was in love

Discussions of her Freudian analysis

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

Flowers for Helen

The Usual Star

Crouching Toward Bethlehem

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

The Chalice

Dionysus

Morning Dew

Helen in Egypt
11 What is agate?

A colorful, fine-grained stone

A type of rock found in Switzerland

A species of wildflower

A ruler of Egypt
12 Is the white violet the sea violet in the poem "Sea Violet"?

Yes

Both the blue violet and white violet are sea violets

There are three kinds of violets in the poem

No
13 What does the sea violet do, "fronting all the wind"?

Sways

Flutters

Shifts

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

Torn shells

Rolling hills

Blue violets

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

Fear

Admiration

Sadness

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

She feels the blue and white violets are equal

She insinuates that blue represents evil

She doesn't actually believe the blue violets are greater

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 becomes a statement of powerful belief

The question reminds one of the ocean
18 What does H.D. feel is more valuable than many blue violets combined?

A promise of stability

A garden of equality

An ocean view

One root of a white violet
19 Why is the distinction between the words "fronting" and "flutter[ing]" important?

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

It evokes the word freedom

One violet is false and one is genuine

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

Third stanza

First stanza

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

The white violet

All violets

The blue violet

The violet that stands out from blue and white violets
22 Why is the frailty H.D. describes in "Sea Violet" different than the frailty expected of women in a patriarchal society?

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

The frailty of H.D. seeks to emphasize how women should not be expected to carry the burdens of men
23 What effect does the switch to second person have in the last stanza of "Sea Violet"?

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

The white violet becomes a separate, foreign identity

The change evokes a sense of respect and allyship

The reader feels sorry for the violet
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 pros and cons of the sea violet, which is flawed but precious

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

The ambivalence men have about respecting women or denigrating them

Sea Violet

by H. D.

Sea Violet Quiz

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