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Question

Difficulty: EasyTone, Mood, and Persona

Read the poetic excerpt below and answer the question that follows:

"I am the voice of the voiceless,
I speak for those whose tongues are tied by fear,
I walk through the shadow of their silence."

What is the persona of the speaker in the lines above?

  1. An advocate speaking on behalf of the oppressedAnswer
  2. B
    The biographical poet sharing his personal life history
  3. C
    The feeling of fear created in the reader
  4. D
    A fearful victim who is unable to speak

Answer

An advocate speaking on behalf of the oppressed
The persona of a poem is the assumed identity or voice created by the poet. In this excerpt, the speaker identifies as 'the voice of the voiceless' who speaks for individuals silenced by fear. This clearly defines the persona as an advocate or representative for the oppressed.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the speaker's declaration in the text
The speaker explicitly states, 'I am the voice of the voiceless' and 'I speak for those whose tongues are tied by fear.'
Determining persona requires examining who the speaker purports to be within the context of the poem.
2
Synthesize the speaker's role
The speaker acts as a champion or spokesperson for marginalized individuals who cannot speak for themselves.
Connecting the evidence to the definition of persona reveals the speaker's social role as an advocate.

Key Concept

Poetic Persona
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Topics

Tone, Mood, and Persona

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