Question

analyzing parallelism

my country is kiltartan cross,
my countrymen kiltartans poor

-\an irish airman foresees his death,\
w. b. yeats

which statement best describes the effect of parallelism in these lines?

• the use of parallelism emphasizes the speakers irish identity.
• the use of parallelism emphasizes the speakers religious beliefs.
• the use of parallelism emphasizes the speakers fearlessness and bravery.

Explanation:

Identify the parallel structure

Using the Literary Devices knowledge point, we analyze the structure of the two lines:
"My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor"

Both lines share a parallel grammatical structure: "My [noun] is/are [proper noun/description]." This repetition of grammatical form creates a balanced, rhythmic connection between the speaker's homeland ("country") and his people ("countrymen").

Analyze the thematic effect

The parallel structure directly links "Kiltartan Cross" (a place in Ireland) with "Kiltartan's poor" (the Irish people living there). By structuring these two declarations identically, the speaker emphasizes his deep, localized connection to his homeland and community, highlighting his Irish identity.

Evaluate the given options

• Option 1: "The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's Irish identity." This aligns with the text, as both "Kiltartan Cross" and "Kiltartan's poor" define his specific Irish origin and community.
• Option 2: "The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's religious beliefs." The lines mention a place name and its people, not religious doctrines or faith.
• Option 3: "The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's fearlessness and bravery." While the poem is about an airman, these specific lines focus on his origin and people rather than his courage.

Answer:

• The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's Irish identity. (Correct answer)
• The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's religious beliefs.
• The use of parallelism emphasizes the speaker's fearlessness and bravery.