O my luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly played in tune
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will love thee still, my dear.
Till a' the seas gang dry.
Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
OI will love thee still, my dear.
While the sands o' life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only live!
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my luve.
Tho' it were ten thousand mile!
Which word from the above extract closely resembles the word 'maiden'?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → lass
- Maiden is an old, literary word for a girl or a young unmarried woman.
Example: The old tale tells of a brave maiden who saved her village. - Lass means a girl or a young woman (a Scottish and northern English word). The poet calls his beloved "my bonie lass", so lass is the word closest in meaning to maiden.
Example: The farmer's daughter was a cheerful young lass.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: June — Incorrect. June is the name of a month. In the poem it is the time when the rose has newly bloomed.
Option 3: luve — Incorrect. Luve is the Scots spelling of "love". It names the poet's feeling or his beloved, whoever she may be. It does not mean a young girl.
Option 4: dear — Incorrect. Dear is a term of affection for any person one loves, young or old, man or woman.
Example: "Come and sit beside me, my dear," said Grandmother.
| Also asked in CUET (UG): lass – 01-06-2023 Slot 1 |