To Penshurst MCQs & Summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 2, 2025

Summary:

“To Penshurst” is a country house poem written by Ben Jonson, celebrating the estate of Penshurst Place, the home of the Sidney family. Unlike other grand mansions built for display, Penshurst represents true nobility, hospitality, and virtue. The poem contrasts the artificiality of wealth-driven houses with the natural harmony and generosity found at Penshurst. Jonson praises the land’s abundance, where nature and agriculture thrive, and the estate’s lord, Robert Sidney, is portrayed as a gracious and moral host. The poem reflects themes of idealized rural life, ethical leadership, and the relationship between land, nobility, and virtue.
To Penshurst
To Penshurst
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1. : What type of poem is To Penshurst?





2. : Who is the poet addressing in To Penshurst?





3. : What makes Penshurst different from other noble houses?





4. : What theme is central to the poem?





5. : What literary device is prominent in the poem?





6. : How does Jonson describe the relationship between nature and the estate?





7. : How does Jonson depict the lord of Penshurst, Robert Sidney?





8. : What does the poem praise about Penshurst’s hospitality?





9. : Which of the following best describes the tone of the poem?





10. : What contrast does Jonson make between Penshurst and other country houses?





 
Question Answer
Poem Name To Penshurst
Poet Ben Jonson
Year Written 1616
Type of Poem Country house poem
Theme(s) Hospitality, Virtue, Nature, Nobility
Literary Device(s) Personification, Imagery, Contrast
Tone Celebratory, Appreciative
Main Idea Penshurst is an ideal noble estate, emphasizing virtue, hospitality, and harmony with nature.
Writing Style Formal, Descriptive, Praising
Historical Significance One of the earliest country house poems in English literature.
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