English Language Arts (ELA) 30-1 Diploma Practice Exam

Gold in this story is a symbol of youthful innocence and the brief, bright goodness of early life. The reference to a well-known poem that says nothing gold can stay reinforces that idea: the shine and purity of youth are temporary, and harsh realities will fade it away. That’s why the best interpretation is innocence—the color represents the sweetness and potential of the boys before life’s troubles harden them. It isn’t about wealth, danger, or old age, which don’t fit the way this symbol is used to contrast with the characters’ harsh world and the loss of their naiveté.