Question

select the correct answer. in this excerpt from phillip freneaus poem “american liberty,” the speaker describes being “slaves and minions to a parliament.” what is the intended meaning of this hyperbole? and should we now when spread thro’ evry shore, submit to that our fathers shunnd before? should we, just heaven, our blood and labour spent, be slaves and minions to a parliament? perish the thought, nor may one wretch remain, who dares not fight and in our cause be slain; a. the speaker feels that the colonists should pay their share of taxes. b. the speaker believes that the british government is broken and should be fixed. c. the speaker thinks that the colonists are being unfairly treated by the british government. d. the speaker intends to lead a slave revolt against the british government.

Explanation:

Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration. The lines suggest a strong - willed stance against submission, with the idea of not being slaves to a parliament being an over - stated way to emphasize the desire for freedom. The speaker is using hyperbolic language to convey a passionate refusal to be subjugated.

Answer:

The speaker is using extreme language to emphasize a strong stance against being subjugated to a parliament, suggesting a passionate rejection of slavery - like submission. This is a hyperbolic way of expressing a desire for freedom and resistance. So, the answer is that the hyperbole is used to emphasize the speaker's strong opposition to being subjugated to the authority of a parliament.