Read the given extract.
Fill the blank with one word.
When the speaker says that she is Rapunzel, she implies that she is __________ , rather than free.
Answer as written by the student:
When the speaker says that she is Rapunzel, she implies that she is trapped , rather than free.
Step-by-Step explanation of the answer:
Let’s break down the answer into three parts:
- The first part is to identify the speaker and the context of the poem. The speaker is a teenage girl named Amanda, who is constantly nagged by her mother about her appearance and behavior. The poem is a dramatic monologue. 🗣️
- The second part is to identify the literary device and the meaning of the reference. The speaker uses an allusion, which is a reference to a person, place, thing, or idea from history, literature, mythology, or culture. The speaker alludes to Rapunzel, who is a character from a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.📚
- The third part is to explain how the allusion contrasts with the reality of the speaker. The speaker says that she is Rapunzel, but she also adds a sarcastic remark in parentheses: “I have not a care; life in a tower is tranquil and rare; I’ll certainly never let down my bright hair!” This remark shows that the speaker does not really believe that she is Rapunzel, because she knows that Rapunzel’s life is not carefree, peaceful, or special.🔗