Impression du Matin MCQs and Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: March 5, 2025

Summary:

“Impression du Matin” is a poem by Oscar Wilde, published in 1881 in his poetry collection Poems. The title is French and translates to “Impression of the Morning.” The poem captures the contrast between the peaceful beauty of the morning and the grim reality of urban life in London.

The first half of the poem paints a serene and picturesque scene of dawn by the Thames River, describing the golden light, the mist over the water, and the calm atmosphere. The imagery is reminiscent of Impressionist paintings, where fleeting moments of beauty are captured.

However, the second half of the poem shifts in tone, introducing the harsh reality of city life—a solitary, weary woman, likely a prostitute, walking the streets. This contrast between natural beauty and human suffering is a key theme in the poem, showcasing Wilde’s ability to blend aestheticism with social commentary.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote the poem Impression du Matin?
   A) William Wordsworth
   B) Oscar Wilde
   C) T.S. Eliot
   D) Lord Byron
   Answer: B) Oscar Wilde
2. What does the title Impression du Matin mean?
   A) A sad memory
   B) Impression of the morning
   C) A love story
   D) A farewell note
   Answer: B) Impression of the morning
3. What is the setting of the poem?
   A) A countryside village
   B) The River Thames in London
   C) A castle by the sea
   D) A tropical island
   Answer: B) The River Thames in London

   

4. Which poetic movement does Impression du Matin reflect?
   A) Romanticism
   B) Impressionism
   C) Gothic literature
   D) Modernism
   Answer: B) Impressionism
5. What is the central contrast in the poem?
   A) Nature’s beauty vs. human suffering
   B) Day vs. night
   C) Wealth vs. poverty
   D) Love vs. hatred
   Answer: A) Nature’s beauty vs. human suffering
6. How does Wilde describe the morning in the poem?
   A) Cold and dark
   B) Calm and beautiful
   C) Full of noise and chaos
   D) Rainy and dull
   Answer: B) Calm and beautiful
7. What significant change occurs in the second half of the poem?
   A) A storm begins
   B) The peaceful morning turns into a scene of human despair
   C) The poet falls in love
   D) The city is abandoned
   Answer: B) The peaceful morning turns into a scene of human despair
8. Who is the solitary figure mentioned in the poem?
   A) A lost child
   B) A fisherman
   C) A weary woman (likely a prostitute)
   D) A noble lady
   Answer: C) A weary woman (likely a prostitute)
9. What theme does Wilde explore through the lonely woman?
   A) The decline of aristocracy
   B) The struggle of the working class
   C) The hidden suffering in urban life
   D) The beauty of love
   Answer: C) The hidden suffering in urban life
10. Which artistic style does Wilde’s description of the morning resemble?
    A) Surrealism
    B) Expressionism
    C) Impressionism
    D) Realism
    Answer: C) Impressionism