Question

xcerpt from "Brown's Descent, or the Willy-nilly Slide" Robert Frost Brown lived at such a lofty farm That everyone for miles could see His lantern when he did his chores In winter after half-past three. 5And many must have seen him make His wild descent from there one night, ’Cross lots, ’cross walls, ’cross everything, Describing rings of lantern light. Between the house and barn the gale 10Got him by something he had on And blew him out on the icy crust That cased the world, and he was gone! Walls were all buried, trees were few: He saw no stay unless he stove 15A hole in somewhere with his heel. But though repeatedly he strove And stamped and said things to himself, And sometimes something seemed to yield, He gained no foothold, but pursued 20 His journey down from field to field. Sometimes he came with arms outspread Like wings, revolving in the scene Upon his longer axis, and With no small dignity of mien. 25 Faster or slower as he chanced, Sitting or standing as he chose, According as he feared to risk His neck, or thought to spare his clothes, He never let the lantern drop. 30 And some exclaimed who saw afar The figures he described with it, “I wonder what those signals are Brown makes at such an hour of night! He’s celebrating something strange. 35 I wonder if he’s sold his farm, Or been made Master of the Grange.” He reeled, he lurched, he bobbed, he checked; He fell and made the lantern rattle (But saved the light from going out.) 40 So half-way down he fought the battle Incredulous of his own bad luck. And then becoming reconciled To everything, he gave it up And came down like a coasting child. 45 “Well––I––be––” that was all he said, As standing in the river road, He looked back up the slippery slope (Two miles it was) to his abode. Excerpt from “Brown’s Descent, or the Willy-nilly Slide” by Robert Frost, from The Poetry of Robert Frost. In the public domain. Multiple Select Question The words the speaker uses to describe the fall convey which tone? Select TWO that apply. A. irreverent because he knows even Brown found the situation to be silly B. disrespectful because he disregards Brown’s pain C. warning because he seems concerned it could happen to others D . nostalgic because he seems to count it one of his happier memories E . playful because he recounts the event in a lighthearted way

Answer 1

The words the speaker uses to describe the fall convey the following tones:

A. irreverent because he knows even Brown found the situation to be silly
E. playful because he recounts the event in a lighthearted way

These tones reflect a sense of humor and a recognition of the absurdity of the situation, indicating that Brown himself might find the experience amusing despite its challenges.