Question

read the excerpt from eighty years and more: reminiscences, 1815-1897.

i still recall, too, going into the large darkened parlor to see my brother, and finding the casket, mirrors, and pictures all draped in white, and my father seated by his side, pale and immovable. as he took no notice of me, after standing a long while, i climbed upon his knee, when he mechanically put his arm about me and, with my head resting against his beating heart, we both sat in silence, he thinking of the wreck of all his hopes in the loss of a dear son, and i wondering what could be said or done to fill the void in his breast.

which question would best help the reader understand stantons viewpoint in this excerpt?

what caused the death of stantons brother?
where are stantons mother and her sisters?
how old is stanton when she writes about this memory?
how did stanton feel about her fathers cold response?

Explanation:

Analyze the excerpt

The excerpt describes a deeply emotional memory of Elizabeth Cady Stanton visiting her grieving father after her brother's death. She describes her father as "pale and immovable," taking "no notice" of her initially. When she climbs onto his knee, he "mechanically" puts his arm around her. They sit in silence, with her father thinking of "the wreck of all his hopes in the loss of a dear son," while she wonders "what could be said or done to fill the void in his breast." This passage focuses heavily on the emotional distance, grief, and the interaction between Stanton and her father.

Evaluate the question

The question asks: "Which question would best help the reader understand Stanton's viewpoint in this excerpt?"
An author's viewpoint refers to their perspective, feelings, and attitude toward the events or people they are writing about. In this personal recollection, understanding how Stanton felt about her father's distant, mechanical, and silent reaction is central to understanding her perspective on this pivotal childhood memory.

Assess the options

• What caused the death of Stanton's brother? This is a factual detail about the background event, not something that reveals Stanton's personal perspective or feelings in this scene.
• Where are Stanton's mother and her sisters? This is an external detail not addressed in the text and does not help clarify her emotional viewpoint.
• How old is Stanton when she writes about this memory? While this provides historical context, it does not directly illuminate her internal perspective during the event described.
• How did Stanton feel about her father's cold response? This question directly targets her emotional state, her reaction to her father's grief, and her perspective on their relationship during this painful moment, which is the core focus of Authors Viewpoint Analysis and Reading Comprehension.

Answer:

• (A) What caused the death of Stanton's brother?
• (B) Where are Stanton's mother and her sisters?
• (C) How old is Stanton when she writes about this memory?
• (D) How did Stanton feel about her father's cold response? (Correct answer)