Question
Read the excerpt from "John Burns of Gettysburg” by Bret Harte.
Brief is the glory that hero earns,
Briefer the story of poor John Burns:
He was the fellow who won reknown,—
The only man who didn't back down
When the rebels rode through his native town
What idea about John Burns do the end rhymes most emphasize?
He fought against the enemy alone.
He was only famous for a very short time.
He faced many difficulties in the war.
He was famous for fighting with courage.
Brief is the glory that hero earns,
Briefer the story of poor John Burns:
He was the fellow who won reknown,—
The only man who didn't back down
When the rebels rode through his native town
What idea about John Burns do the end rhymes most emphasize?
He fought against the enemy alone.
He was only famous for a very short time.
He faced many difficulties in the war.
He was famous for fighting with courage.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The end rhymes most emphasize the idea that "He was only famous for a very short time." The use of the words "glory" and "story" suggests that his fame was brief, highlighting the transient nature of his heroism.