Read this stanza from Allen Ginsberg’s "A Supermarket in California." What thoughts I have of you tonight, Walt Whitman, for I walked down the sidestreets under the trees with a headache self-conscious looking at the full moon. Which statement best describes the scene in the first stanza of Ginsberg’s poem?
Answer
A
The speaker is hastily making his way to the local supermarket to meet up with an old friend.
B
The speaker is taking a lonely stroll at night while reflecting on the words of a favorite poet.
C
The speaker is eager to return to the safety of his home and read poems by Walt Whitman.
D
The speaker is busy gazing at the full moon when he bumps into a former acquaintance.
Explanation
The speaker describes walking down sidestreets at night, looking at the full moon, and thinking of Walt Whitman. The moonlit walk and reflective tone suggest a solitary stroll spent thinking about a poet he admires. Nothing in the stanza says he bumps into someone, heads home, or goes to a supermarket, so B is the best choice.
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