Question

Read the last stanza from "The Rainy Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Behind the clouds is the sun still shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary. What does the phrase "the common fate of all" mean in the poem?
A.beloved by most people

B.easily avoided

C.what happens to everyone

D.unique to just a few people

Answer 1

I think it’s A idk don’t hate me this is my first time answering a question

Answer 2

Answer:

The phrase "the common fate of all" means C. what happens to everyone.

Explanation:

In the poem "The Rainy Day", by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the speaker is telling his heart to stop suffering. He uses a cold and rainy day as a metaphor for hardships and heartache. Even though the wind blows coldly and relentlessly, even though it keeps on raining, the sun shall shine again.

One of the speaker's arguments to convince his heart that things will be alright is the fact that suffering is "the common fate of all". Everyone is destined to go through difficulties at some point in their lives. And, since happiness is just hiding behind the clouds like the sun, there is no point in dwelling in sadness.

Read the poem in full below:

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;  

It rains, and the wind is never weary;  

The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,  

But at every gust the dead leaves fall,  

And the day is dark and dreary.  

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;  

It rains, and the wind is never weary;  

My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,  

But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,  

And the days are dark and dreary.  

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;  

Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;  

Thy fate is the common fate of all,  

Into each life some rain must fall,  

Some days must be dark and dreary.