Question

Read the second stanza of "Some Keep the Sabbath Going to Church."

Some keep the Sabbath in Surplice –
I just wear my Wings –
And instead of tolling the Bell, for Church,
Our little Sexton – sings.

What is the effect of the word “surplice,” which is a garment worn by the clergy, in this stanza?
It reinforces the difference between the natural things the speaker holds dear and the rituals of the church.
It reinforces the poet’s belief that most people feel the need to attend church.
It reinforces the poet’s authority by suggesting that she knows quite a bit about religious rituals.
It reinforces the speaker’s view that great mystery lies at the heart of most religious rituals.

Answer 1

It reinforces the difference between the natural things the speaker holds dear and the rituals of the church.

Explanation: “Surplice” evokes formal, clerical garb and organized worship; by contrasting that with “my Wings” and the sexton (a bird) singing, the speaker emphasizes her preference for a personal, natural spirituality over institutional ritual.