Read the unseen poetic extract below:
"The silent gavel falls without a sound,
And leaves of iron blossom from the stone;
In sovereign grief the captive king is crowned,
Inheriting a realm of dust alone."
Which core literary device is demonstrated in the line "In sovereign grief the captive king is crowned", and what thematic reality does it reveal about the protagonist's condition?
- Paradox, demonstrating the fundamental contradiction of gaining supreme royal authority while remaining completely imprisoned and powerlessness.Answer
- BOxymoron, because two directly opposing words are placed adjacent to one another to modify a single noun phrase.
- CDramatic irony, because the audience possesses secret background knowledge of the king's impending rescue while he remains unaware.
- DLiteral statement of fact, confirming that the monarch physically surrendered his metallic crown during an official coronation ceremony.
Answer
Paradox, demonstrating the fundamental contradiction of gaining supreme royal authority while remaining completely imprisoned and powerlessness.
The option identifying paradox accurately captures how the full line presents an apparent contradiction—being crowned king while in captivity—which conveys the thematic truth of powerless sovereignty.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Unseen Poetic Appreciation: Paradox versus Oxymoron