Question

1.4.3 test (cst): modernism and language
read the following lines from t. s. eliots \the love song of j. alfred prufrock\
no! i am not prince hamlet, nor was meant to be,
am an attendant lord, one that will do
to swell a progress, start a scene or two,
advise the prince; no doubt, an easy tool,
deferential, glad to be of use,
politic, cautious, and meticulous;
full of high sentence, but a bit obtuse;
at times, indeed, almost ridiculous-
almost, at times, the fool.
i grow old... i grow old...
i shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.
which sentence best analyzes the poets use of allusion in this passage?
a. the speaker mentions hamlet to show how he comes to terms with indecision and makes a stand.
b. the speaker mentions the fool to show how he realizes his own self - worth and asserts himself.
c. the speaker compares himself to an easy tool to illustrate how easily he can be manipulated.
d. the speaker refers to the bible to convey the idea that people should live in the moment because life is short.

Explanation:

Allusion is a reference to a well - known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. In this passage, the speaker mentions Prince Hamlet. Hamlet is a character known for his indecision. The speaker says "No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be", but the allusion to Hamlet is still present. Option A correctly analyzes this allusion as the speaker is relating to Hamlet's indecision. Option B's analysis of "the Fool" as realizing self - worth is incorrect as the tone around "the Fool" is more self - deprecating. Option C is about a metaphor ("an easy tool") rather than an allusion. Option D has no reference to the Bible in the given passage.

Answer:

A. The speaker mentions Hamlet to show how he comes to terms with indecision and makes a stand.