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Test your knowledge of Canto I. Submit your answers to see your results and get feedback.
What does the narrative voice emphasize at the beginning of the poem?
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That great suffering often comes from trivial matters
That poets are beholden to the truth
That lords are entitled to assault whomever they please
That sylphs are fickle beings who are unpredictable
What purpose does the invocation of the Muse in the poem's opening serve?
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It brings the poet's imaginary friend into the narrative
It establishes the high expectations that the poet must meet
It links the poem to something that happened in real life
It establishes the poem’s mock epic style
What does the sylph describe as the fate of women's souls after death?
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They become either sylphs or muses
They become whichever element they identified with in life
They become different beings depending on their character
They are reincarnated as humans
What does the sylph's explanation about the relationship between sylphs, gnomes, and women imply about free will?
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It implies that the characters are completely in control of their actions
It implies that the characters have no free will at all
It implies that there's ambiguity surrounding whether the characters have free will
It implies that the characters are uninterested in having free will
What warning does the sylph Ariel issue to Belinda?
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To prepare for a catastrophe
To be careful of men
To consult the stars for guidance
To maintain her piety
What does Belinda's reaction to Ariel's message suggest about her character?
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She is vain and easily distracted by praise
She is deeply concerned about her future
She has a strong belief in the supernatural
She is a deeply thoughtful and introspective character
How is the process of Belinda dressing and grooming herself depicted?
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As a common everyday routine
As a battle preparation
As a pagan ritual of sorts
None of the above
When Belinda is getting ready, what does the mention of her possessions hint at?
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The poem's use of colonialist tropes to demonstrate Belinda's self-importance
The tendency of people in Belinda's society to relinquish fancy items
The fact that Belinda sees herself as an ordinary woman with simple needs
The poem's use of gendered tropes to demonstrate Belinda's naivety
