Question

instructions
read the question carefully and select the best answer.

what is most closely the meaning of dower as it is used in the passage below (lines 9–12)?

and now the world receives
from her dower:
the message of the strength
of inner power.

a. verb | to give
b. noun | money inherited by a woman upon the death of her husband
c. noun | a gift
d. all of the above

Explanation:

In the passage, "dower" is preceded by "her" (a possessive adjective), so it functions as a noun (eliminating option A). The context describes the world receiving "the message of the strength of inner power" from her dower—this aligns with a "gift" (option C) rather than the specific legal definition of money inherited by a widow (option B, which is too narrow for the poetic context). Option D is incorrect because A is invalid.

Answer:

C. noun | a gift