When You Are Old Quiz - CBSE Class 12 English

Free practice quiz: When You Are Old (CBSE Class 12 English). 10 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. Play online, no sign-up needed.

This CBSE Class 12 English practice quiz has 10 multiple-choice questions on When You Are Old, and 10 of them come with an explanation. Try the 5 sample questions below (tap an option to check yourself), then play the full quiz online. No sign-up needed.

Sample questions

1. In "When You Are Old," what does the speaker ask the woman to remember?

   1. His beauty
   2. His wealth
   3. His love
   4. His kindness
   Show answer

   Answer: C. His love

   The poem's central theme is the speaker's enduring love, which he believes will be appreciated only when the woman is old.

2. How does the poem's imagery contribute to its overall theme?

   1. It emphasizes the speaker's youthfulness
   2. It creates a sense of happiness and joy
   3. It evokes a sense of loss and longing
   4. It celebrates material possessions
   Show answer

   Answer: C. It evokes a sense of loss and longing

   The imagery of fading beauty and the passing of time strengthens the poem's theme of lost youth and the enduring nature of love.

3. Identify the tone of the poem "When You Are Old."

   1. Joyful and celebratory
   2. Angry and resentful
   3. Nostalgic and melancholic
   4. Humorous and lighthearted
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Nostalgic and melancholic

   The poem reflects on the passage of time and the loss of beauty, creating a nostalgic and somewhat melancholic atmosphere.

4. How does the poem's structure contribute to its meaning?

   1. The free verse form emphasizes spontaneity
   2. The rhyming scheme creates a sense of urgency
   3. The regular rhyme and meter enhance the poem's musicality
   4. The irregular structure mirrors the poem's chaotic theme
   Show answer

   Answer: C. The regular rhyme and meter enhance the poem's musicality

   The consistent rhyme scheme and meter create a sense of rhythm and flow, which contributes to the poem's overall effect.

5. Compare and contrast the poem's treatment of love with other poems exploring similar themes.

   1. It provides a unique perspective on romantic love
   2. It conforms to traditional notions of romantic love
   3. It rejects the idea of enduring love entirely
   4. It explores a platonic rather than romantic ideal
   Show answer

   Answer: A. It provides a unique perspective on romantic love

   The poem offers a specific perspective on love, emphasizing its enduring nature even in the face of fading beauty and the passage of time, which differs from other perspectives on this subject.

More questions in this quiz

Answers and explanations are in the full quiz.

1. What literary device is predominantly used in the poem "When You Are Old"?
2. What is the significance of the line, "How many loved your moments of glad grace"?
3. Analyze the use of foreshadowing in the poem.
4. Discuss the poem's exploration of the themes of beauty and aging.
5. Analyze the poem's use of symbolism and its contribution to the overall meaning and interpretation of the poem.

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