Read this excerpt from Allen Ginsberg’s "A Supermarket in California."Where are we going, Walt Whitman? The doors close in an hour. Which way does your beard point tonight?(I touch your book and dream of our odyssey in the supermarket and feel absurd.)Will we walk all night through solitary streets? The trees add shade to shade, lights out in the houses, we’ll both be lonely. Why does Ginsberg most likely make an allusion to Walt Whitman in this excerpt?
Answer
A
to support Ginsberg and Whitman’s close friendship
B
to show Ginsberg’s esteem for Whitman and his work
C
to hint at Ginsberg’s embarrassment at his own behavior
D
to share Ginsberg’s desire to live during Whitman’s lifetime
Explanation
Ginsberg addresses Walt Whitman directly and refers to touching Whitman’s book, showing that he knows and admires Whitman’s writing. The allusion lets Ginsberg honor Whitman and connect with him as a literary influence. The speaker does feel “absurd,” but that feeling is not the main purpose of the reference.
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