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Difficulty: MediumAllusion and Intertextuality

Read the following poem carefully before answering the question.

The Prophet’s Salon

We sit and watch the steady rain,
And sip the tea and speak of weather,
While underneath the porcelain vein
The floorboards creak and press together.
I see the shadow on the lawn, 5
The silent horse of wood and ash,
The smoke that eats the quiet dawn,
The falling tower, the sudden crash.
But when I turn to speak the name
Of what will burn this gentle hall, 10
They laugh and trace the golden frame,
And tell me shadows cannot fall.
My words are leaves upon the wind,
A useless, heavy silver coin;
The thread is spun, the fates are pinned, 15
And none will see the seam we join.

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the allusion to the "horse of wood and ash" (line 6) in developing the speaker's perspective?

  1. illustrate the speaker’s profound isolation and frustration at being unable to convince others of a looming catastropheAnswer
  2. B
    suggest that the speaker is physically preparing for a literal siege rather than expressing an internal sense of foresight
  3. C
    classify the description as an allusion to classical mythology to prove that the poem follows a traditional epic structure
  4. D
    reveal the poet's own biographical concerns regarding modern industrial warfare and societal collapse
  5. E
    signal a sudden shift in the speaker's tone from gentle melancholy to triumphant vengeance

Answer

The correct option is the one stating that the allusion serves to illustrate the speaker’s profound isolation and frustration at being unable to convince others of a looming catastrophe.
The allusion to the 'horse of wood and ash' evokes the Trojan Horse and, by extension, the myth of Cassandra, who was cursed to foresee the destruction of Troy but never be believed. In the poem, the speaker describes witnessing an impending disaster that others in the domestic setting ('this gentle hall') refuse to take seriously. Thus, the allusion functions to highlight the speaker's profound sense of isolation and distress at being unable to warn companions of their collective ruin.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the allusion within the poem's context.
The reference to a 'horse of wood and ash' in the context of a falling tower and unheeded warnings of fire alludes to the Trojan Horse and the mythological figure of Cassandra.
Recognizing the mythic source is necessary to understand how the allusion functions in the new poetic context.
2
Analyze how the allusion functions in relation to the speaker's perspective.
The speaker sees a destructive future ('the falling tower, the sudden crash') but is laughed at by companions who 'tell me shadows cannot fall,' mirroring Cassandra's curse of disbelief.
This links the allusion directly to the speaker's state of mind and their relationship with the other characters.
3
Determine which option best expresses this function.
The option describing the speaker's isolation and frustration at their unheeded warnings of catastrophe captures this psychological dynamic.
It explains the psychological effect of the allusion on the speaker's voice rather than simply labeling the device or misinterpreting it literally.

Key Concept

Allusion and Intertextuality in Poetry
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Topics

Allusion and Intertextuality

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