Question

the arrow and the song
by henry wadsworth longfellow
1 i shot an arrow into the air,
it fell to earth, i knew not where;
for, so swiftly it flew, the sight
could not follow it in its flight.
5 i breathed a song into the air,
it fell to earth, i knew not where;
for who has sight so keen and strong,
that it can follow the flight of song?
long, long afterward, in an oak
10 i found the arrow, still unbroke;
and the song, from beginning to end,
i found again in the heart of a friend.
what effect does the use of the word breathed in line 5 have on the tone of the poem?
it emphasizes the quiet nature of the speaker.
it highlights the soothing quality of the song.
it reinforces the ease with which words are used in our lives.
it stresses the relaxation that comes from singing.

Explanation:

The word "breathed" implies a gentle and soft action. A song that is "breathed" into the air gives an impression of being soothing and calm. It creates a serene and tranquil mood. The other options do not fit as well. The speaker's quiet nature is not the main focus here. The ease of using words in life is not the connotation of "breathed". And while singing can be relaxing, the emphasis of "breathed" is more on the quality of the song itself being soothing rather than just the relaxation from singing.

Answer:

It highlights the soothing quality of the song.