I, too, Am America: The Harlem Renaissance and Cultural Rebellion — Test
Question 8 • TPS EdX English Language Arts 11
Read this excerpt from Diane Di Prima’s poem "Buddhist New Year Song." I could see the planet from which we had come I could not remember (then) what our purpose was but remembered the name Mahakala, in the dawn in the dawn confronted Shiva, the cold light revealed the “mindborn” worlds What is the purpose of these allusions in this excerpt?
Answer
A
to depict the importance of religious faith
B
to show the speaker of the poem’s intelligence
C
to reference figures of destruction and creation
D
to explain the purpose of the dawn
Explanation
Mahakala and Shiva are figures from Hindu religious traditions associated with destruction and creation. Mentioning them connects the speaker’s vision to those cosmic forces and the creation of worlds. The allusions do more than show the speaker’s knowledge or explain why dawn occurs.
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