Love came to Flora asking for a flower That would of flowers be undisputed queen, The lily and the rose, long, long had been Rivals for that high honour. Bards of power Had sung their claims. "The rose can never tower Like the pale lily with her Juno mien"— "But is the lily lovelier?" Thus between Flower factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.

"Give me a flower delicious as the rose And stately as the lily in her pride"— "But of what colour?" — "Rose-red," Love first chose, Then prayed, — "No, lily-white, — or, both provide;" And Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed, And "lily-white", — the queenliest flower that blows

Which word in the poem is closest in meaning to the word ""conflict""?

Question

Love came to Flora asking for a flower That would of flowers be undisputed queen, The lily and the rose, long, long had been Rivals for that high honour. Bards of power Had sung their claims. "The rose can never tower Like the pale lily with her Juno mien"— "But is the lily lovelier?" Thus between Flower factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.

"Give me a flower delicious as the rose And stately as the lily in her pride"— "But of what colour?" — "Rose-red," Love first chose, Then prayed, — "No, lily-white, — or, both provide;" And Flora gave the lotus, "rose-red" dyed, And "lily-white", — the queenliest flower that blows

Which word in the poem is closest in meaning to the word ""conflict""?

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

The word in the poem that is closest in meaning to the word "conflict" is "strife." Understanding the context of the poem, particularly the rivalry between the lily and the rose for the title of "undisputed queen" of flowers, is essential for lexical analysis. "Strife" is found in the line, "Flower factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower." The word "conflict" generally means a serious disagreement or argument, often protracted, and often involving force or intense opposition. "Strife" is defined as angry or bitter disagreement over fundamental issues; conflict. In the poem, the "strife" is the ringing disagreement or struggle between the "Flower factions" (the lily and the rose supporters) over who deserves the high honor of being queen. This intense, ringing disagreement perfectly captures the essence of a conflict. The poetic context directly equates the "strife" with the ongoing struggle for supremacy between the two flowers, making it the most direct and accurate synonym for "conflict" among the choices provided. The word is used to describe the atmosphere of contention and dispute surrounding the decision Flora must make.

The incorrect option is 1:

"Rivals" refers to the competitors themselves—the lily and the rose—who are vying for the same honor. While conflict arises *between* rivals, the word "rivals" itself is a noun referring to the people or things competing, not the conflict or struggle itself. Therefore, "rivals" describes the subjects of the conflict, not the action or state of the conflict ("strife").

The incorrect option is 3:

"Undisputed" means not challenged or called into question; accepted by everyone. This word is an antonym, or opposite, of "conflict." The entire poem is centered around the *dispute* between the lily and the rose, meaning the queen status is very much *disputed*—the opposite of being "undisputed."

The incorrect option is 4:

"Claims" refers to the assertions or demands made by the bards on behalf of the lily and the rose regarding their worthiness for the title. The "claims" are what the factions argue over, but they are statements of entitlement, not the fighting or disagreement ("conflict") itself. Claims are the *reason* for the conflict, whereas "strife" describes the *state* of the conflict.