Author's Style and Layers of Meaning in Cane — Quiz
Question 1 • English Language Arts 11
Read the excerpt from "Rhobert” in Cane. He is way down. Down. Mud, coming to his banty knees, almost hides them. Soon people will be looking at him and calling him a strong man. No doubt he is for one who has had rickets. Lets give it to him. Lets call him great when the water shall have been all drawn off. Lets build a monument and set it in the ooze where he goes down. A monument of hewn oak. [. . .] Lets open our throats, brother, and sing "Deep River” when he goes down. Brother, Rhobert is sinking. Lets open our throats, brother, Lets sing Deep River when he goes down. Which best describes Toomer’s use of diction in this excerpt?
Answer
A
The phrase “open our throats” shows that Rhobert cannot speak.
B
The connotation of the word “monument” emphasizes Rhobert’s greatness.
C
The use of the word “oak” implies that Rhobert is large like a tree.
D
The phrase “for one who has had rickets” suggests Rhobert is not in fact strong.