The Enigmatic Tale of "anyone lived in a pretty how town"

Question 1
What is the central idea of the poem "anyone lived in a pretty how town"?
  • Once the children of pretty how town grew up, no one remembered anyone and noone.
  • The townspeople, whose lives were out of tune, tried to emulate anyone and noone's.
  • The people of pretty how town thought anyone was odd and didn't understand his joyfulness.
  • Anyone and noone lived a joyful life in sync, unlike the lives of the ordinary townspeople.
Question 2
Which detail from the poem best develops the central idea identified in Part A?
  • "when by now and tree by leaf / she laughed his joy she cried his grief"
  • "someones married their everyones / laughed their cryings and did their dance"
  • "children guessed (but only a few /and down they forgot as up they grew..."
  • "Women and men(both little and small) / cared for anyone not at all"
Answer:

Part A is Anyone and noone lived a joyful life in sync, unlike the lives of the ordinary townspeople.

Part B is "children guessed (but only a few /and down they forgot as up they grew..."

Explanation:

1. The central idea of the poem "anyone lived in a pretty how town" is:

Option D - Anyone and noone lived a joyful life in sync, unlike the lives of the ordinary townspeople.

2. The detail from the poem which best develops the central idea identified in Part A is:

Option C - "children guessed (but only a few /and down they forgot as up they grew..."

The explanation which supports the correct answer is as follows:

The sonnet "anyone lived in a pretty how town" portrays the loss and lack of identity among individuals in the world. The composition of the title is suggestive of varied interpretations in this poem as well. The title could be interpreted in multiple ways, such as an ordinary and unremarkable individual living in a town.

The poem reflects the theme that one day everyone will pass away, highlighting the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. The unique structure and rhythm of the poem further enhance its enigmatic nature and philosophical undertones.

← Research definition and process What is the question from a friendly interviewer nyt crossword clue →