Question

the passing of the hours
by ella higginsson
1 the hours steal: by with slip, unmasking lips—
2 so lightly that i cannot hear their tread;
3 and softly touch me with their finger - tips
4 to find if i be dreaming, or be dead.
5 and yet however still their flight may be,
6 their ceaseless going weights my heart with tears;
7 these touches will have wrought deep scars on me—
8 when the light hours have worn to heavy years.

1 steal: move quietly or surreptitiously
2 still: quiet

which statement best describes how the speaker’s point of view shapes the poem’s meaning?
a. the speaker’s detached point of view makes time seem unimportant.

b. the speaker’s intensely personal point of view emphasizes the emotional impact of time.

c. the speaker’s humorous point of view makes time seem less threatening enough.

d. the speaker’s critical point of view suggests that others do not value time

Explanation:

The poem "The Passing of the Hours" by Ella Higginsson uses personal and emotional language (e.g., "softly touch me with their finger - tips", "wrought deep scars on me"). Option A is incorrect as the speaker is not detached; time is important. Option C is wrong as there's no humor. Option D is incorrect as the focus is on the speaker's own experience, not criticizing others' value of time. Option B is correct because the speaker's personal and intense descriptions (like time's touch, scars from hours) emphasize the emotional impact of time.

Answer:

B. The speaker’s intensely personal point of view emphasizes the emotional impact of time.