Direction : Read the following poem and answer the question that follow

Now joy is born of parents poor,
And pleasure of our richer kind;
Though pleasure's free she cannot sing
As sweet a song as joy confined.

Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day
And dances by false glare at night;
But joy's a Butterfly, that loves
To spread it wings in Nature's light.

Joy's Like a Bee that gently sucks
Away on blossoms its sweet hour;
But pleasure's like a greedy wasp,
That plums and cherries would devour.

Joy's like a Lark that lives alone,
Whose ties are very strong though few;
But Pleasure like a Cuckoo roams,
Makes much acquaintance no friends true.

Joy from her heart doth sing at home,
With little care if others hear;
But pleasure then is cold and dumb,
And sings and laughs with strangers near

"Pleasure's a Moth that sleep by
day"

Question

Direction : Read the following poem and answer the question that follow

Now joy is born of parents poor,
And pleasure of our richer kind;
Though pleasure's free she cannot sing
As sweet a song as joy confined.

Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day
And dances by false glare at night;
But joy's a Butterfly, that loves
To spread it wings in Nature's light.

Joy's Like a Bee that gently sucks
Away on blossoms its sweet hour;
But pleasure's like a greedy wasp,
That plums and cherries would devour.

Joy's like a Lark that lives alone,
Whose ties are very strong though few;
But Pleasure like a Cuckoo roams,
Makes much acquaintance no friends true.

Joy from her heart doth sing at home,
With little care if others hear;
But pleasure then is cold and dumb,
And sings and laughs with strangers near

"Pleasure's a Moth that sleep by
day"

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct option is 1:
The line "Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day" is an excellent example of a Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things without using comparison words like "like" or "as." Its purpose is to show that the two things are similar in some way, often adding depth, color, or emphasis to the writing. In this context, the poet is not saying that "pleasure" is literally an insect, but rather equating the abstract concept of Pleasure with the characteristics of a Moth. The Moth, in this stanza, is depicted as sleeping by day and dancing by "false glare at night," which establishes a clear, symbolic comparison. Pleasure, like the Moth, is implied to be superficial, temporary, and associated with artificiality (false glare), contrasting sharply with the 'joy' which is compared to a Butterfly that loves "Nature's light." The identification of Pleasure directly *as* a Moth creates a powerful, implicit comparison that allows the reader to understand the quality and nature of the poet's perception of "pleasure" versus "joy." This technique is fundamental to the poem's central theme of contrasting fleeting, superficial enjoyment (pleasure) with deep, authentic contentment (joy). The Metaphor functions here to give a physical, observable form to an abstract emotion, making the poet's meaning more immediate and impactful.

The incorrect option is 2:
Assonance is a literary device defined by the repetition of vowel sounds within words or phrases that are close together in a sentence. While Assonance may subtly exist in the line "Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day" (e.g., the short 'e' sounds), the primary and overriding figure of speech is the direct comparison between Pleasure and a Moth. Assonance is an auditory device concerned with sound repetition, whereas the core of the phrase is based on meaning and symbolic identification.

The incorrect option is 3:
Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. Examples of hyperbole would include statements like "I've told you a million times" or "I could sleep for a year." The statement "Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day" is a comparison, not an exaggeration. The poet is making an insightful analogy rather than dramatically overstating a point.

The incorrect option is 4:
Anti-thesis (or antithesis) is a rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas or concepts within a sentence or adjacent sentences, often using parallel structure. While the entire poem utilizes antithesis by contrasting Joy and Pleasure, the specific isolated line, "Pleasure's a Moth that sleeps by day," only presents one side of the contrast. It is a Metaphor *used* within the larger framework of antithesis that structures the entire poem, but the line itself is structurally a metaphor.