A Farewell to Tobacco – MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 11, 2025

Summary:

Charles Lamb’s poem “A Farewell to Tobacco” is a humorous yet reflective piece in which the poet expresses his struggle with quitting tobacco. The poem captures his deep attachment to the habit, portraying tobacco as both a pleasure and a harmful addiction. Lamb personifies tobacco, describing it almost like a friend or a lover that he must part ways with, despite his reluctance.

The poem is written in a mock-serious tone, blending wit, irony, and poetic elegance. Through rich imagery and clever wordplay, Lamb highlights the conflicting emotions of enjoyment and guilt associated with smoking. While he acknowledges its negative effects, he also laments the loss of the comfort it brings him.

In essence, “A Farewell to Tobacco” is both a personal reflection and a humorous critique of human tendencies toward addiction and indulgence.

A Farewell to Tobacco – MCQs & Summary
A Farewell to Tobacco – MCQs & Summary

MCQs:

  1. What is the main theme of “A Farewell to Tobacco”?
    a) The dangers of war
    b) The poet’s struggle with quitting smoking
    c) The beauty of nature
    d) The importance of friendship
    Answer: b) The poet’s struggle with quitting smoking
  2. What is the tone of the poem?
    a) Romantic and passionate
    b) Humorous and reflective
    c) Angry and aggressive
    d) Melancholic and tragic
    Answer: b) Humorous and reflective
  3. Which literary device is most commonly used in the poem?
    a) Simile
    b) Personification
    c) Hyperbole
    d) Metaphor
    Answer: b) Personification
  4. Why does Lamb decide to quit tobacco?
    a) Due to health reasons and guilt
    b) Because it became too expensive
    c) Because he lost interest in it
    d) Because society rejected smokers
    Answer: a) Due to health reasons and guilt
  5. How does the poet describe tobacco in the poem?
    a) As a beautiful flower
    b) As a loyal friend and a deceiver
    c) As a dangerous weapon
    d) As a symbol of power
    Answer: b) As a loyal friend and a deceiver
  6. Which literary era does “A Farewell to Tobacco” belong to?
    a) Victorian Era
    b) Romantic Era
    c) Modernist Period
    d) Renaissance Period
    Answer: b) Romantic Era
  7. What kind of conflict is portrayed in the poem?
    a) Political conflict
    b) Internal struggle between pleasure and guilt
    c) Conflict between friends
    d) Social class struggle
    Answer: b) Internal struggle between pleasure and guilt
  8. What feeling does the poet express towards tobacco?
    a) Hatred
    b) Mixed emotions of love and regret
    c) Indifference
    d) Excitement
    Answer: b) Mixed emotions of love and regret
  9. What does the poem reveal about human nature?
    a) People never change
    b) Humans struggle with addiction and self-control
    c) Life is always predictable
    d) Smoking is the key to happiness
    Answer: b) Humans struggle with addiction and self-control
  10. What is the structure of the poem?
    a) Sonnet
    b) Lyrical poem with free verse elements
    c) Haiku
    d) Prose poem
    Answer: b) Lyrical poem with free verse elements
QuestionAnswer
Poem NameA Farewell to Tobacco
PoetCharles Lamb
Poem TypeLyrical poem with humor and irony
Main ThemeStruggle with quitting smoking
ToneHumorous and reflective
Subject of the PoemThe poet’s farewell to tobacco
Literary EraRomantic Era
Key Literary Device UsedPersonification
Emotion EvokedMixed feelings of love and regret
Why Does the Poet Quit?Due to health concerns and guilt
What Does the Poem Highlight?The human struggle with addiction
Notable FeatureWitty and ironic farewell to tobacco

MCQs & Summary of Some Famous Poems by Charles Lamb

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