Read the excerpt from Midsummer by Derek Walcott. The leaf stems tug at their chains, the branches bending like Boer cattle under Tory whips that drag every wagon nearer to apartheid. This excerpt makes an allusion to the Second Boer War, which was fought among the United Kingdom, the South African Republic, and the Orange Free State between 1899 and 1902. Which statement best describes the effect of the allusion?
Answer
A
It helps the reader understand that the author supported the Second Boer War and the Brixton rioting.
B
It suggests that the past war is the sole reason for the current political climate in Brixton.
C
It helps the reader understand why the war was fought and how the war ultimately ended.
D
It evokes an image that helps the reader understand the current racial and political situation in Brixton.
Explanation
The comparison of branches to “Boer cattle under Tory whips” recalls the Second Boer War and the coercion associated with it. The image connects that history to the poem’s reference to apartheid, helping readers picture the racial oppression and political tensions in Brixton. It does not explain the war’s outcome or claim that the war alone caused Brixton’s situation.
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