Question

read this excerpt from \the legend.\

theres a rembrandt glow on his face,
a triangle of orange in the hollow of his cheek
as a last flash of sunset
blazes the storefronts and lit windows of the street.

in these lines, the allusion to the great seventeenth-century portrait painter rembrandt highlights the theme

\youth is the best time of life.\
\people are nothing next to nature.\
\individual lives are important.\
\our lives depend on the sun.\

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt and allusion

The excerpt from "The Legend" describes a "Rembrandt glow" on a man's face, created by the last flash of sunset. Rembrandt is famous for his portraits that use chiaroscuro (contrast of light and dark) to capture the deep, dignified, and complex inner humanity of ordinary individuals. By casting this artistic, golden light on a common person on the street, the poem elevates his presence. This connects directly to Textual Evidence showing how ordinary moments are rendered sacred.

Connect the allusion to the theme

Using Theme Analysis, we evaluate how this artistic elevation functions. The "Rembrandt glow" does not suggest that humans are insignificant next to nature, nor does it focus on youth or physical dependence on the sun. Instead, by treating an ordinary person's face as a masterpiece worthy of a legendary portraitist, the allusion emphasizes that every single person has inherent dignity. This highlights the theme that "Individual lives are important."

Answer:

• "Youth is the best time of life."
• "People are nothing next to nature."
• "Individual lives are important." (Correct answer)
• "Our lives depend on the sun."