Directions (96-100): Read the following poem and answer the
given questions.

In all my wand’rings round this world of care,
In all my griefs-and God has giv’n my share
I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown,
Amidst these humble bow’rs to lay me down;
To husband out life’s taper at the close,
And keep the flame from wasting by repose;
I still had hopes, for pride attends us still,
Amidst the swains to show my book learn’d skill,
Around my fire an ev’ning group to draw,
And tell of all I felt, and all I saw.

What does the poem say about the nature of the world?

The correct answer is: It's full of care and hope.

To understand why this is the right answer, let us carefully analyze the poem's language, tone, and key phrases step by step.

Step 1: Identifying the "Care" in the World
The very first line of the poem sets the tone immediately:

"In all my wand'rings round this world of care,"

The poet directly uses the phrase "world of care", which tells us explicitly that the world, in the speaker's view, is filled with burdens, sorrows, and hardships. This is not a world of joy or wonder — it is a world that weighs heavily on the traveler.

This is further reinforced in the second line:

"In all my griefs — and God has giv'n my share"

The word "griefs" and the acknowledgment that the speaker has received a full share of sorrow confirms that the world is indeed a place of suffering and difficulty.

Step 2: Identifying the "Hope" in the Poem
Despite the heaviness of care and grief, the poem is equally saturated with the spirit of hope. Notice how the phrase "I still had hopes" appears twice in the poem — once in line 3 and again in line 7. This repetition is intentional and powerful. Even after all the wandering and grief, the speaker clings to hope:

"I still had hopes, my latest hours to crown,
Amidst these humble bow'rs to lay me down;"

Here, the speaker hopes to find peaceful rest and a dignified end among simple surroundings. This reflects a deep, enduring hope for comfort and belonging.

"I still had hopes, for pride attends us still,
Amidst the swains to show my book learn'd skill,
Around my fire an ev'ning group to draw,
And tell of all I felt, and all I saw."

In these closing lines, the speaker hopes to gather friends around a fireside, share stories, and relive experiences — a warm, human aspiration that speaks directly to the persistence of hope even in a difficult world.

Step 3: Why the Other Options Are Incorrect
- "It's full of joy" — This is clearly wrong. The poem mentions grief, wand'rings, and care. There is no celebration of joy.
- "It's full of desertion" — While the speaker may feel alone in his wanderings, the poem's central message is not about being abandoned. It is about enduring life's hardships with hope.
- "It's full of wonders" — The poem does not describe the world as wondrous or magical. The tone is reflective and tinged with sorrow.

Conclusion:
The poem presents a balanced picture of human experience — a world that is hard and full of care, yet one in which hope never completely dies. The two dominant themes woven through every line are care (suffering, grief, and weariness) and hope (the repeated "I still had hopes"). Therefore, the answer "It's full of care and hope" is the most accurate and complete description of the nature of the world as portrayed in this poem.