Analyzing Layers of Meaning in The Surrender Tree — Quiz
Question 5 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from "Shout: A Poetry Memoir.” On our bellies, facing the beach, hands in the mud legs in the water, my feet motorboated obediently. I didn’t mind kicking long as I could hold on to the shore. But then the Lady beckoned us into deep water one by one. I refused, even with the rest of the class staring. The Lady hooked me under the armpits and pulled me in. Which detail best contributes to the cautious tone of this excerpt?
Answer
A
“But then the Lady beckoned us into deep water”
B
“I didn’t mind kicking long as I could hold / on to the shore.”
C
“I refused, / even with the rest of the class staring.”
D
“The Lady hooked me under the armpits and pulled / me in.”
Explanation
The detail “I didn’t mind kicking long as I could hold on to the shore” shows the speaker is comfortable only while staying close to safety. Holding on to the shore suggests caution about moving into deeper water, which contributes to the excerpt’s cautious tone.
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