Beat Movement Spontaneous Prose

Question 6 • ELA 11B-CR

Which line from “The Railroad Earth” best illustrates the influence of American blues and jazz on Kerouac’s style?

Answer

I put the light out on the sad dab mad grub little diving room and hustle out into the fog of the flow

O well anyway I'll be learning eventually to like the railroad and Sherman will like me some day

I had heard that peanut butter and lettuce contained all the vitamins you should want

But it was that beautiful cut of clouds I could always see above the little S.P. alley

Explanation

Choice A best reflects blues and jazz influence through its rapid, flowing rhythm and playful, improvisational sound. The repeated short words in “sad dab mad grub” and the energetic phrase “hustle out” make the line feel like a spontaneous musical riff. The other choices are more straightforward observations or statements.

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