A+Psalm+of+Life+Review+and+Assess

2. **(a) Recall:** What attitude or idea does the speaker challenge in the first two stanzas? **(b) Interpret:** Is the attitude the poet expresses positive or negative
 * The speaker challenges the ideas of pessimism, atheism, and realism. He proclaims that there is a reason for life and the existence of a soul, always keeping a positive and optimistic tone.

3. **(a) Recall:** In the first stanza, what does the speaker warn against? **(b) Interpret:** What is the speaker's attitude concerning individuality and self-reliance
 * The speaker warns that if we don’t progress further than we had previously, then what is there trying to be alive. Emotion does not play a role in the human life, but the things we do for the world that progresses our kind shall make us live longer.

4. **(a) Recall:** In the third stanza, what does the speaker warn against? **(b) Interpret:** What is the poet calling readers to do?
 * According to the poem, we can influence future generations by leaving influential ideas and setting goals that leave impressions on people’s psyche. Anyone can leave influential “footprints” as long as we follow the model of great me and be reminded that we, too, can be influential.

5. **(a) Draw Conclusions:** Summarize the speaker's view of life. **(b) Evaluate:** What is the message of this poem? Do you agree with the poet's ideas? > > --- Home
 * The speaker believes that life is a solemn virtue and that the only way to live it is by making it worthwhile by becoming a good influence on future generations. As long as you live life, you must progress further than before, and provide an impetus for others to create their own “footprints”.