When wasteful war shall statues overturn, And broils root out the work of masonry,

Question

Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow.

When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

And broils root out the work of masonry,

Nor Mars his sword nor war’ quick shall *

The living record of your memory.

(i) What is the effect of war?

(ii) What roots out the work of masons?

(iii) What things cannot affect the living record referred to here ?

(iv) What is beyond burning by war?

Answer 1

(i) War overturns statues.

(ii) Broils root out the work of masons.

(iii) War, broils, and Mars’ sword cannot *** the living record.

(iv) The living record of the poem’* memory.