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Difficulty: MediumLiterary Devices and Figurative Language

Read the following English translation of an excerpt from the poem "You Want Me White" ("Tú me quieres blanca") by the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni:

"You want me white,
you want me of foam,
you want me of mother-of-pearl.
That I be a lily
chaste above all,
of perfume micro-thin,
corolla closed."

Which of the following best describes the function of the metaphors "white," "foam," and "lily" in the passage?

  1. They symbolize the unrealistic and restrictive standards of purity expected of the speaker.Answer
  2. B
    They literally describe the physical beauty of coastal landscapes and garden flowers.
  3. C
    They express the speaker's personal desire to escape to a peaceful, rural environment.
  4. D
    They establish a cheerful and lighthearted mood that celebrates romantic affection.

Answer

They symbolize the unrealistic and restrictive standards of purity expected of the speaker.
The option stating that these terms symbolize the unrealistic and restrictive standards of purity expected of the speaker is correct. In Alfonsina Storni's poem, "white," "foam," "mother-of-pearl," and "lily" serve as metaphors for absolute purity and chastity. The repetition of "you want me" underscores that these are external, societal demands placed upon the speaker, which the poem goes on to critique as hypocritical.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the poem and the speaker's address.
The speaker addresses an interlocutor who demands certain qualities from the speaker.
Understanding who is speaking and to whom helps establish the relationship and the target of the poetic critique.
2
Identify the figurative meaning of the words "white," "foam," and "lily."
Rather than describing a literal scene, these words are metaphors and traditional symbols of cleanliness, innocence, and chastity.
This step prevents the literal misinterpretation of the poetic imagery.
3
Synthesize the function of these metaphors with the speaker's tone.
The repetition of these demanding metaphors highlights the restrictive and hypocritical societal expectations of female purity.
Connecting the literary devices to the thematic focus reveals the correct option.

Key Concept

Identifying the symbolic function of metaphors in a literary text
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Topics

Literary Devices and Figurative Language

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