Direction : Read the following poem and answer the question given below :

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never ending line
Along the margin of a bay :
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out - did the sparkling waves in glee :
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company :
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought :

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

'A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company' :
Here 'jocund company' refers to :

Question

Direction : Read the following poem and answer the question given below :

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never ending line
Along the margin of a bay :
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out - did the sparkling waves in glee :
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company :
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought :

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

'A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company' :
Here 'jocund company' refers to :

Accepted Answer

The phrase "A poet could not but be gay, In such a jocund company" from the poem refers to the "jocund company" as the host of golden daffodils. Here is a detailed explanation supporting why Option 2 is the correct answer:

1. **Explanation for Option 2: A host of golden daffodils**
   - The poem describes the poet's encounter with a large number of daffodils, which are depicted as lively and cheerful. The daffodils are personified as "fluttering and dancing in the breeze," creating an image of joy and vitality. This lively scene is what the poet refers to as "jocund company." The daffodils' presence brings happiness and a sense of companionship to the poet, which is why they are described as a "jocund company." The poet's mood is uplifted by the sight of the daffodils, emphasizing their role as the source of joy and merriment.

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

- **Option 1: High spirited, merry friends of the poet**
     - This option is incorrect because the poem does not mention any human companions or friends accompanying the poet. The focus is solely on the natural elements, particularly the daffodils, which are the source of the poet's joy. The "jocund company" refers specifically to the daffodils, not to any human friends.

- **Option 3: Stars twinkling in the milky way**
     - While the poem does mention stars in the context of describing the daffodils' continuity, the stars are not the "jocund company" that brings joy to the poet. The stars are used as a metaphor to emphasize the vast number of daffodils, but they are not the direct source of the poet's happiness in this context.

- **Option 4: Waves dancing in glee**
     - The waves are mentioned as part of the scene, but the poem explicitly states that the daffodils "out-did the sparkling waves in glee." This indicates that the daffodils, not the waves, are the primary source of joy and are the "jocund company" referred to by the poet. The waves are secondary to the daffodils in terms of the impact on the poet's mood.

In conclusion, the "jocund company" in the poem refers to the host of golden daffodils, as they are the central focus of the poet's joyful experience and are described in a way that highlights their lively and cheerful nature.