Read this passage.
In this excerpt, Solomon Northup is being transported from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, where he will be sold into enslavement. Read this excerpt from Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup.
It was a very pleasant morning. The fields along the river were covered with verdure, far in advance of what I had been accustomed to see at that season of the year. The sun shone out warmly; the birds were singing in the trees. The happy birds-I envied them. I wished for wings like them, that I might cleave the air to where my birdlings waited vainly for their father's coming, in the cooler region of the North.
What is the effect of the imagery of the beautiful weather?
A. It implies that the slave traders are manipulating the journey so that the weather is always pleasant.
B. It foreshadows that Northup's situation is improving and he will soon be freed.
C. It signals that while Northup is being illegally deprived of his freedom, the world continues to function normally.
D. It emphasizes that the journey on the river is a peaceful interlude from the horrors of captivity.
Answer (2)
The imagery of beautiful weather in Northup's passage emphasizes the stark contrast between the normalcy of the outside world and his own dire situation as a slave. This juxtaposition highlights how he is being deprived of freedom while life continues around him. Ultimately, it deepens the reader's understanding of his tragic circumstance in the face of a seemingly beautiful day. ;
The imagery of beautiful weather in Northup's excerpt highlights the contrast between the pleasant surroundings and his tragic reality as a slave. This emphasizes that while he suffers, life continues normally around him. The best answer is C: It signals that while Northup is being illegally deprived of his freedom, the world continues to function normally.
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