Question 14 of 15 • ARC English 10 Semester 2 CR/Summer
Answer:
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: In the story "Civil Peace," Jonathan says "Nothing puzzles God" every time something miraculous happens. It means that anything can happen, but God, being omniscient, is not surprised even when mortals are surprised. The first time Jonathan uses it, he's marveling that his bike is still in working condition after having spent a year buried in the ground. The second time he uses it, he's gazing at the miracle that his house is still standing. The third time he uses it, Jonathan receives twenty pounds as an ex gratia reward for turning in Biafran money. The last time he uses it is at the end of the story after his family is robbed of the ex gratia. It may seem that this is an unusual place to use the phrase because, throughout the story, he used it after something wonderful happened. In this case, however, he's using it after something terrible has happened. It shows that Jonathan values the lives of his family members more than his money and is optimistic that things will get better. If he has to give up his fortune so that the violence will end, he'll do it.