Question

Read the excerpt from "Surrendering” by Ocean Vuong.

From a box of cassettes, I chose one labeled "Great American Speeches.” I picked it because of the illustration, a microphone against a backdrop of the American flag. I picked it because the American flag was one of the few symbols I recognized.

How does the use of anaphora affect the tone of the excerpt?

It contributes to a calming tone.
It contributes to a frantic tone.
It contributes to a solemn tone.
It contributes to an arrogant tone.

Answer 1

It contributes to a solemn tone.

The repeated "I chose / I picked" slows the rhythm and emphasizes each deliberate action, giving the speaker's choices weight and a reflective, grave quality.