Read the excerpt from "A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long.”

Question

She would go to the big library uptown and I now know
Hat in hand to ask to borrow so that I might borrow...
But she nonetheless brought the books
Back and I held them to my chest
Close to my heart

How does the time period in which the poem takes place contribute to the reader’s understanding of this excerpt?

It shows how books provided the speaker with an escape from social injustices.
It illustrates how involved people were with the social conflicts in society and what they did to overcome them.
It gives the reader a clear picture of what Mrs. Long considered to be the most important issues of her day.
It provides specific details about what the speaker and the people in her community thought about civil rights.

Answer 1

The correct answer is: It shows how books provided the speaker with an escape from social injustices.

In the excerpt, the act of borrowing books and holding them close suggests a deep emotional connection and a longing for knowledge or solace. This reflects how books serve as a refuge for the speaker, especially in the context of a time period that may have been marked by social injustices. Consequently, the libraries and the books represent not just an educational resource but also a means of escaping or coping with the difficulties of the surrounding world. The overall tone and sentiment of cherishing the books imply that they offered the speaker comfort and a way to navigate through challenging circumstances.