Question 6 • CMS 2026-2027 English II CREDIT RECOVERY
Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince. against my will, my fate A throne unsettled, and an infant state, Bid me defend my realms with all my pow'rs, And guard with these severities my shores. In this passage by the Roman poet Virgil, Queen Dido speaks about the responsibilities of a ruler. How does the phrase infant state in the second line affect the tone?
Answer
A
It changes the tone to become more serious.
B
It supports the overall tone of fear.
C
It changes the tone to make it more threatening.
D
It suggests a tone of loving concern.
Explanation
“Infant state” compares Dido’s young kingdom to a baby: it is new, vulnerable, and needs protection. This image adds a tone of loving concern as she describes her responsibility to defend her realm. It does not make the passage threatening; her words focus on protecting the state.
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