Question

Read the excerpt from "My City” by James Weldon Johnson.

Will it be that no more I shall see the trees
Or smell the flowers or hear the singing birds
Or watch the flashing streams or patient herds?
No, I am sure it will be none of these.

How does the poet’s use of punctuation develop the tone of contemplation in this excerpt?

It forces the reader to consider whether the speaker is presenting truthful ideas.
It explains to the reader that the speaker is consumed by memories of the past.
It helps signal to the reader that the speaker is grappling with a particular thought.
It pushes the reader to engage in trying to answer the question the speaker poses

Answer 1

It helps signal to the reader that the speaker is grappling with a particular thought.

The question mark introduces doubt and inward questioning, and the following "No, I am sure it will be none of these." — with the short declarative and the comma after "No" — shows the speaker working through uncertainty and then resolving it. The punctuation therefore frames an internal, contemplative shift.