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 is like a greedy wasp,
That plums and cherries would
devorur."
In the above lines the word
'devour' means:

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 is like a greedy wasp,
That plums and cherries would
devorur."
In the above lines the word
'devour' means:

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4: To eat something eagerly.

In this beautiful poem, the writer uses a series of metaphors to contrast the quiet, genuine nature of ‘Joy’ with the superficial, intense nature of ‘Pleasure.’ The specific line in question reads: "But pleasure's like a greedy wasp, / That plums and cherries would devour." To determine the meaning of 'devour' here, we must look at the context provided by the comparison. The word 'devour' is a strong verb that fundamentally means to eat food or prey hungrily or quickly. When applied to the "greedy wasp" and the fruits "plums and cherries," the literal meaning of rapid consumption is immediately evoked. Furthermore, the adjective 'greedy' is crucial because it implies an excessive, unrestrained, or intense desire for consumption, elevating the act of eating beyond mere sustenance to an eager, ravenous consumption. Therefore, in the context of a creature consuming fruit, 'devour' signifies "To eat something eagerly," emphasizing the intense, unrestrained, and often destructive nature of Pleasure, just as a greedy wasp might aggressively consume ripe fruit. This aggressive, consuming action contrasts sharply with the gentle action of Joy, which is compared to a Bee that "gently sucks / Away on blossoms its sweet hour," reinforcing that the correct answer relates to the physical act of eating with high intensity.

The incorrect option is 1: To enjoy greatly.
While the greedy wasp might 'enjoy' plums and cherries, 'devour' is a verb describing a specific physical action—eating—not a general state of appreciation or enjoyment. The primary semantic meaning of 'devour' is linked to consumption, making "to enjoy greatly" too broad and inaccurate as a definition.

The incorrect option is 2: To dance beautifully.
'To dance beautifully' is entirely irrelevant to the context of the greedy wasp and the plums and cherries. The word 'devour' has no linguistic connection to movement or dancing; it is focused on the rapid consumption of food, so this option contradicts the literal meaning of the line.

The incorrect option is 3: To sing melodiously.
This option relates to auditory expression ('singing') and is completely disconnected from the imagery used in the line, which focuses on the wasp, its greed, and the objects of its consumption (plums and cherries). If the poem intended to describe singing, a different verb would have been used.