The Death of the Hired Man MCQs and Summary

Summary:

“The Death of the Hired Man” is a narrative poem by Robert Frost, first published in 1914. The poem revolves around a conversation between a husband (Warren) and wife (Mary) about their old farmhand, Silas, who has unexpectedly returned to their farm in poor health.

Silas was once a hired worker on Warren’s farm but was unreliable, leaving whenever he found better opportunities. Warren is frustrated and questions why Silas has come back now, while Mary, showing compassion, insists that Silas has returned to find peace and dignity in his final moments.

The poem explores themes of home, responsibility, forgiveness, and the definition of “home.” Mary believes that home is where “when you have to go there, they have to take you in,” while Warren sees home as something earned. In the end, Silas dies quietly in the barn before Warren can speak to him again.

The poem is written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter), giving it a natural, conversational tone.

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MCQs:

1. Who wrote The Death of the Hired Man?
   A) Walt Whitman
   B) Robert Frost
   C) Emily Dickinson
   D) William Wordsworth
   Answer: B) Robert Frost
2. When was The Death of the Hired Man published?
   A) 1910
   B) 1914
   C) 1923
   D) 1935
   Answer: B) 1914
3. Who are the main characters in the poem?
   A) Warren, Mary, and Silas
   B) Robert, Susan, and Henry
   C) John, Elizabeth, and Sam
   D) Mark, Helen, and Peter
   Answer: A) Warren, Mary, and Silas

   

4. What is the main theme of the poem?
   A) The importance of wealth
   B) The meaning of home and forgiveness
   C) The struggle for power
   D) The beauty of nature
   Answer: B) The meaning of home and forgiveness
5. Why has Silas returned to Warren’s farm?
   A) To ask for money
   B) To work on the farm again
   C) To die in a familiar place
   D) To apologize for leaving
   Answer: C) To die in a familiar place
6. What does Mary believe about “home”?
   A) Home is a place you have to earn
   B) Home is where they have to take you in
   C) Home is only for family
   D) Home is wherever you feel happy
   Answer: B) Home is where they have to take you in
7. How does Warren feel about Silas at the beginning of the poem?
   A) He is excited to see him
   B) He is indifferent
   C) He is angry and resentful
   D) He feels guilty
   Answer: C) He is angry and resentful
8. What happens to Silas at the end of the poem?
   A) He runs away
   B) He finds work elsewhere
   C) He dies peacefully
   D) He reconciles with Warren
   Answer: C) He dies peacefully
9. What literary technique does Frost use in the poem?
   A) Free verse
   B) Blank verse
   C) Rhyming couplets
   D) Haiku
   Answer: B) Blank verse
10. What does Silas represent in the poem?
    A) Lost opportunities and regret
    B) Hard work and success
    C) Strength and power
    D) Youth and ambition
    Answer: A) Lost opportunities and regret