Read the following poem titled 'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' by D. H. Lawrence and answer the question given below :

When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart,
My pack of unruly hounds! I cannot start
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,
I can haul them and urge them no more.

No longer now can I endure the brunt
Of the books that lie out on the desks; a full threescore
Of several insults of blotted pages, and scrawl
Of slovenly work that they have offered me.
I am sick, and what on earth is the good of it all?
What good to them or me, I cannot see!

So, shall I take
My last dear fuel of life to heap on my soul
And kindle my will to a flame that shall consume
Their dross of indifference; and take the toll
Of their insults in punishment? — I will not! —

I will not waste my soul and my strength for this.
What do I care for all that they do amiss!
What is the point of this teaching of mine, and of this
Learning of theirs? It all goes down the same abyss.

What does it matter to me, if they can write
A description of a dog, or if they can’t?
What is the point? To us both, it is all my aunt!
And yet I’m supposed to care, with all my might.

I do not, and will not; they won’t and they don’t; and that’s all!
I shall keep my strength for myself; they can keep theirs as well.
Why should we beat our heads against the wall
Of each other? I shall sit and wait for the bell.

Which line in the poem means 'to waste one's time trying hard to accomplish something that is completely hopeless' ?

Question

Read the following poem titled 'Last Lesson of the Afternoon' by D. H. Lawrence and answer the question given below :

When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?   
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart,                
My pack of unruly hounds! I cannot start 
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt, 
I can haul them and urge them no more.

No longer now can I endure the brunt   
Of the books that lie out on the desks; a full threescore  
Of several insults of blotted pages, and scrawl  
Of slovenly work that they have offered me. 
I am sick, and what on earth is the good of it all?  
What good to them or me, I cannot see!

So, shall I take
My last dear fuel of life to heap on my soul
And kindle my will to a flame that shall consume
Their dross of indifference; and take the toll
Of their insults in punishment? — I will not! —

I will not waste my soul and my strength for this.
What do I care for all that they do amiss!
What is the point of this teaching of mine, and of this
Learning of theirs? It all goes down the same abyss.

What does it matter to me, if they can write
A description of a dog, or if they can’t?
What is the point? To us both, it is all my aunt!
And yet I’m supposed to care, with all my might.

I do not, and will not; they won’t and they don’t; and that’s all!
I shall keep my strength for myself; they can keep theirs as well.
Why should we beat our heads against the wall
Of each other? I shall sit and wait for the bell.

Which line in the poem means 'to waste one's time trying hard to accomplish something that is completely hopeless' ?

Accepted Answer

Option 3, "Why should we beat our heads against the wall," is the correct answer because it metaphorically describes the act of futilely trying to achieve something that is hopeless. The phrase "beat our heads against the wall" is commonly used to express the frustration and pointlessness of making efforts that are unlikely to succeed. In the context of the poem, the speaker is expressing the futility of trying to teach students who are indifferent and unmotivated, likening it to a hopeless endeavor.

1. **Explanation for Option 3:**
   - The line "Why should we beat our heads against the wall" captures the essence of engaging in a pointless struggle. The imagery of physically beating one's head against a wall conveys a sense of repeated, ineffective effort that yields no results. In the poem, the teacher feels that trying to instill knowledge in disinterested students is a waste of time and energy, akin to this futile action.

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**

- **Option 1: "To us both, it is all my aunt!"**
     - This line uses a colloquial expression to indicate that something is meaningless or irrelevant. While it suggests indifference, it does not specifically convey the idea of wasting time on a hopeless task.

- **Option 2: "I shall keep my strength for myself."**
     - This line reflects the speaker's decision to conserve their energy rather than expend it on a futile effort. It indicates a withdrawal from the struggle but does not directly describe the act of engaging in a hopeless task.

- **Option 4: "I shall sit and wait for the bell."**
     - This line suggests passivity and resignation, indicating that the speaker is waiting for the class to end. It does not convey the active, yet futile, effort implied by "beating one's head against the wall."

In summary, Option 3 is the correct choice because it effectively captures the sense of engaging in a hopeless and pointless effort, which aligns with the speaker's feelings of frustration and futility in the poem.