"My brother! My brother! My brother! [. . .] Alas! my beloved brother, what shall I say? How shall I begin? Whither shall I turn? On all sides is sorrow; everywhere is fear. I would, my brother, that I had never been born, or, at least, had died before these times. [. . .] When has any such thing been even heard or seen; in what annals has it ever been read that houses were left vacant, cities deserted, the country neglected, the fields too small for the dead and a fearful and universal solitude over the whole earth?. . ." from a letter by the poet Petrarch to his brother Parma, Italy 1340's (from Black Death 1347 by George Deaux).

Question

This letter from the poet Petrarch to his brother, reflects all of the attitudes of society during the Black Death except:
a.
hopelessness and despair
b.
superstition and xenophobia
c.
fear and isolation
d.
devastation and mourning

Answer 1

The letter from Petrarch primarily conveys feelings of hopelessness, despair, fear, and mourning due to the overwhelming impact of the Black Death. It captures the emotional state of individuals faced with death, loss, and the desolation of communities.

However, it does not explicitly reflect attitudes of superstition and xenophobia (option b). While these sentiments were indeed present in society during the Black Death, the letter focuses more on personal grief and existential despair rather than elements of superstition or hostility towards outsiders.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

b. superstition and xenophobia