Question

the following text is adapted from emily dickinson’s 1864 poem \success is counted sweetest.\ success is counted sweetest by those who neer succeed. to comprehend a nectar requires sorest need. not one of all the purple host who took the flag today can tell the definition so clear of victory as he defeated – dying – on whose forbidden ear the distant strains of triumph burst agonized and clear! what is the main idea of the text? a the speaker discusses the struggles associated with the field of military. b the speaker contends that success is known the most by those who have not succeeded. c the speaker advocates the complexities related to human history. d the speaker emphasizes the importance of strength to achieve victory.

Explanation:

The poem starts with "Success is counted sweetest By those who ne'er succeed", and the subsequent stanzas (like the example of the defeated dying person hearing triumph) support the idea that those who haven't succeeded understand success best. Option A focuses on military struggles, which is a minor example, not the main idea. Option C about human biology is irrelevant. Option D (assuming it's about strength from struggle) doesn't match the core about who knows success best. So B matches the main idea.

Answer:

B. The speaker contends that success is known the most by those who have not succeeded.