Target Exam

CUET

Subject

English

Chapter

Comprehension - (Poetry / Literary)

Question:

Read the following lines and answer the question that follows by choosing the correct option :

'My father lived at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forced to fly;
So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.

'With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,
And many a childing mother then,
And new-born baby died;
But things like that, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

The poem conveys the following message: (Choose the correct option)

Options:

Necessity of war

Victory at a price

Victory brings fame

Victory costs money

Correct Answer:

Victory at a price

Explanation:

The poem conveys the following message: Victory at a price.

The poem expresses the idea that victory often comes at a significant cost. The speaker's father lived at Blenheim, but his dwelling was burnt to the ground, forcing him to flee with his wife and child. The poet describes the widespread devastation caused by the war, including the burning of homes and the loss of innocent lives, particularly mothers and newborn babies. Despite the tragic consequences, the speaker acknowledges that such events are considered inevitable in the aftermath of a famous victory. The overall message is that the glory of victory is accompanied by the harsh realities of destruction, suffering, and loss.