For he seemed to me again like a king, Like a king in exile, uncrowned in the underworld,

Question

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow :

For he seemed to me again like a king,

Like a king in exile, uncrowned in the underworld,

Now due to be crowned again. And so, I missed my chance with one of the lords Of life.

And I have something to expiate:

A pettiness.

(a) Why is the snake called a king in exile ? 

(b) What is the pettiness referred to in these lines ?

(c) What does the word ‘underworld’ mean ? 

(d) The poet refers to ...... as one of the lords of life

Answer 1

(a) The snake is a majestic creature and is forced to remain underground, out of man’s sight.

(b) The act of throwing a log at the snake/harming the snake.

(c) Under the earth / underground / a snake hole.

(d) Snake