[Part B]

Question

Which lines from the poem best convey the tone you chose in Part A?
Answer choices for the above question

A. God of our weary years, / God of our silent tears, / Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

B. Thou who hast by Thy might, / Led us into the light, / Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

C. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we meet Thee, / Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

D. Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, / True to our God, true to our native land.
Why do you think Johnson chose to use the word Shadowed in line 29?
Answer choices for the above question

A. He hopes that, metaphorically, the hand of God will be directly above his people, guiding and protecting them.

B. He believes the path ahead will be dark and sinister, like a shadow.

C. He imagines that God’s hand will literally be above his people, casting a shadow upon them.

D. He means that his people will remain faithful to their religion, in the same way that every light has a shadow.

Answer 1

For the first question regarding the tone of the poem, the best lines that convey a tone of hope and faith are:

A. God of our weary years, / God of our silent tears, / Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

These lines express a sense of gratitude and reliance on God, indicating a hopeful tone.

For the second question about Johnson's choice to use the word "Shadowed" in line 29, the most fitting explanation is:

A. He hopes that, metaphorically, the hand of God will be directly above his people, guiding and protecting them.

This interpretation suggests that the imagery of "shadow" conveys a protective presence rather than darkness.