The underlined words contribute to a humorous tone in the passage. Humpty Dumpty's confident declaration about the meanings of words, coupled with Alice's perplexity, creates a whimsical interaction. The absurdity of his reasoning and the playful dynamics between the characters enhance the comedic effect of the exchange.
Read this passage from Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll.
“I don't know what you mean by ‘glory,’” Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don't—till I tell you. I meant ‘there's a nice knock-down argument for you!’”
“But ‘glory’ doesn't mean ‘a nice knock-down argument,’” Alice objected.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”
How do the underlined words affect the tone of the passage?
They give the passage a neutral tone.
They give the passage a positive tone.
They give the passage a negative tone.
They give the passage a humorous tone.
1 answer
1 answer