Afterwards MCQs and Summary

Summary:

Thomas Hardy’s poem Afterwards is a reflective meditation on mortality and how people are remembered after death. The speaker contemplates his own passing, wondering if those left behind will notice the small things he appreciated in life—such as nature, animals, and changing seasons. The poem carries a gentle, melancholic tone, focusing on the idea of being remembered as someone who observed and valued the world around him. Hardy uses vivid imagery and a peaceful, accepting outlook on death, suggesting that life continues even after an individual is gone.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote the poem Afterwards?
   a) Robert Frost
   b) Wilfred Owen
   c) Thomas Hardy
   d) W.B. Yeats
   Answer: c) Thomas Hardy
2. What is the main theme of the poem?
   a) The excitement of life
   b) The inevitability of death and remembrance
   c) The horrors of war
   d) The struggle for survival
   Answer: b) The inevitability of death and remembrance
3. What does the speaker wonder about?
   a) How nature will change after his death
   b) Whether people will remember him after he is gone
   c) If his poetry will be famous
   d) If he will be punished in the afterlife
   Answer: b) Whether people will remember him after he is gone

   

4. What does the speaker hope to be remembered for?
   a) His wealth and achievements
   b) His love for war and adventure
   c) His appreciation of nature and quiet observation
   d) His leadership and power
   Answer: c) His appreciation of nature and quiet observation
5. Which poetic device is prominent in Afterwards?
   a) Simile
   b) Metaphor
   c) Imagery
   d) Hyperbole
   Answer: c) Imagery
6. What kind of tone does the poem have?
   a) Angry and defiant
   b) Joyful and celebratory
   c) Peaceful and reflective
   d) Dramatic and fearful
   Answer: c) Peaceful and reflective
7. What does the “dewfall-hawk” symbolize in the poem?
   a) The cycle of life and nature’s continuation after death
   b) A dangerous predator
   c) A messenger from the afterlife
   d) A sign of bad luck
   Answer: a) The cycle of life and nature’s continuation after death
8. What does the poem suggest about the passage of time?
   a) Time stops after death
   b) Time erases all memories
   c) Life and nature continue despite an individual’s passing
   d) Time moves faster after death
   Answer: c) Life and nature continue despite an individual’s passing
9. How does Hardy view death in this poem?
   a) As something terrifying and painful
   b) As a natural transition that should be accepted
   c) As an unnecessary part of life
   d) As something to be fought against
   Answer: b) As a natural transition that should be accepted
10. Which natural elements are mentioned in the poem?
    a) Rivers and mountains
    b) The dewfall-hawk, the hedgerow, and flowers
    c) Snow and ice
    d) The ocean and the sky
    Answer: b) The dewfall-hawk, the hedgerow, and flowers
11. What does the phrase “He was a man who used to notice such things” suggest?
    a) The speaker wants to be remembered as an observer of life
    b) The speaker was careless about his surroundings
    c) The speaker was famous for his discoveries
    d) The speaker regrets not noticing life’s beauty
    Answer: a) The speaker wants to be remembered as an observer of life
12. What does Hardy emphasize about human existence in this poem?
    a) People are always remembered in history
    b) Life is brief, but nature continues
    c) People can achieve immortality through wealth
    d) Death is meaningless
    Answer: b) Life is brief, but nature continues
13. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
    a) AABB
    b) ABAB
    c) Free verse
    d) None of the above
    Answer: b) ABAB
14. What is the primary message of Afterwards?
    a) Death is a frightening experience
    b) It is important to leave behind material wealth
    c) People should appreciate the world around them before they are gone
    d) Fame and recognition are the most important aspects of life
    Answer: c) People should appreciate the world around them before they are gone
15. What does Hardy’s use of natural imagery suggest?
    a) Nature is hostile to humans
    b) The world remains unchanged after an individual’s death
    c) Nature and humans are always in conflict
    d) Nature is unimportant in the grand scheme of things
    Answer: b) The world remains unchanged after an individual’s death