Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms” by Thomas Moore
Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly today,
Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy-gifts fading away,
Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art.
Let thy loveliness fade as it will.
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.
It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known,
To which time will but make thee more dear;
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sun-flower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose.
Use the poem to answer the question.
Which of the following words or phrases in the poem is ironic?
A.
endearing
B.
fairy-gifts
C.
ruin
D.
verdantly
E.
youth
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Hmm, let me put on my clown wig and think about this. Well, based on the poem, I'd say the ironic word is "ruin." Why? Because typically, when we hear the word "ruin," we think of something destroyed or in a state of decay. But in this context, the poet is referring to the dear ruin of the beloved's beauty, implying that even in the fading or changing of her beauty, it's still cherished. It's like saying a broken cookie is still yummy. So yeah, I'd go with "ruin" as the ironic word here.
The word or phrase in the poem that is ironic is "fairy-gifts" (B). The speaker compares the fleeting nature of the endearing charms to fairy-gifts that fade away. However, despite this irony, the speaker assures that their love would still endure, regardless of any changes.
To identify which of the words or phrases in the poem is ironic, we need to understand the meaning of irony. Irony is a figure of speech that refers to an expression or situation where the outcome is the opposite of what is expected. It often involves a contrast between appearance and reality.
In this poem, the ironic word or phrase would be one that contradicts the overall sentiment or theme expressed.
Let's analyze the options:
A. "Endearing" - This word describes the young charms as being lovable or adorable. It does not appear to be ironic because it aligns with the speaker's sentiment towards the charms.
B. "Fairy-gifts" - This phrase refers to the notion of fleeting or impermanent gifts, like those given by fairies. It could be seen as ironic in relation to the speaker's wish for the young charms to remain unchanged, but it also fits the theme of ever-lasting adoration despite the fleeting nature of beauty.
C. "Ruin" - This word seems out of place in terms of irony since it suggests destruction or decay, which does not align with the idea of adoration expressed in the poem.
D. "Verdantly" - This word means lush and green, often associated with growth and vitality. While it might seem ironic considering the presence of a ruin, it falls more in line with the speaker's desire for their love to flourish despite any fading beauty.
E. "Youth" - The word youth, in this context, refers to the time of vitality and beauty. It is not necessarily ironic, as it represents a typical association with charm and attraction.
Therefore, after analyzing the options, the most likely ironic word or phrase in the poem is "fairy-gifts" (B) as it subtly contrasts with the speaker's wish for the charms to remain adored even if they fade.