Summary:
“Requiescat” is a poem of mourning by Oscar Wilde, written in memory of his younger sister, Isola, who passed away at the age of nine. The title, Requiescat, is Latin for “May she rest in peace.” The poem is deeply personal and expresses grief, love, and the pain of loss.
The poem describes a young girl buried beneath the earth, with the speaker mourning her untimely death. Wilde uses soft, sorrowful imagery, such as “quiet dust” and “her hands folded”, to convey a sense of eternal peace. The tone is gentle and melancholic, focusing on the finality of death and the innocence lost.
Through simple yet powerful language, Wilde captures the deep sadness of losing a loved one, while also expressing a wish for her peaceful rest. The poem is a reflection on love, memory, and the inevitability of death.
MCQs:
- Who wrote the poem Requiescat?
A) William Wordsworth
B) Oscar Wilde
C) John Keats
D) Lord Byron
Answer: B) Oscar Wilde - What does the word Requiescat mean?
A) Celebration of life
B) May she rest in peace
C) Eternal love
D) A song of joy
Answer: B) May she rest in peace - Whom did Wilde write Requiescat for?
A) His mother
B) His younger sister, Isola
C) His best friend
D) His wife
Answer: B) His younger sister, Isola
Requiescat - What is the tone of the poem?
A) Joyful and energetic
B) Sad and mournful
C) Angry and rebellious
D) Romantic and passionate
Answer: B) Sad and mournful - Which theme is most prominent in Requiescat?
A) Love and passion
B) Death and mourning
C) Adventure and heroism
D) Nature and beauty
Answer: B) Death and mourning - Which literary device is heavily used in the poem?
A) Irony
B) Metaphor
C) Satire
D) Alliteration
Answer: B) Metaphor - What does Wilde emphasize about his sister in the poem?
A) Her love for poetry
B) Her innocence and early death
C) Her adventurous spirit
D) Her beauty and charm
Answer: B) Her innocence and early death - What imagery is used in the poem?
A) Flowers and gardens
B) Quiet dust, folded hands, and deep sleep
C) Thunder and lightning
D) Waves crashing on rocks
Answer: B) Quiet dust, folded hands, and deep sleep - What message does the poem convey?
A) Life is full of happiness and joy
B) Death is peaceful and inevitable
C) People should never forget their past
D) Love is more important than death
Answer: B) Death is peaceful and inevitable - What is the structure of the poem?
A) Sonnet
B) Free verse
C) Ballad
D) Elegy
Answer: D) Elegy
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | Requiescat |
| Poet | Oscar Wilde |
| Year Written | 1874 |
| Written for | His sister, Isola |
| Main Themes | Death, mourning, loss, innocence |
| Tone | Mournful, sorrowful, peaceful |
| Literary Style | Elegy |
| Notable Imagery | Quiet dust, folded hands, deep sleep |