“The Spanish Dancer” by Rainer Maria Rilke
As a lit match first flickers in the hands
Before it flames, and darts out from all sides
Bright, twitching tongues, so, ringed by growing bands
Of spectators—she, quivering, glowing stands
Poised tensely for the dance—then forward glides
And suddenly becomes a flaming torch.
Her bright hair flames, her burning glances scorch,
And with a daring art at her command
Her whole robe blazes like a fire-brand
From which is stretched each naked arm, awake,
Gleaming and rattling like a frightened snake.
And then, as though the fire fainter grows,
She gathers up the flame—again it glows,
As with proud gesture and imperious air
She flings it to the earth; and it lies there
Furiously flickering and crackling still—
Then haughtily victorious, but with sweet
Swift smile of greeting, she puts forth her will
And stamps the flames out with her small firm feet.
Use the poem to answer the question.
The meter in lines 13–16 (“She gathers up…crackling still”) functions to do which of the following?
A.
create diminuendo
B.
imply the dancer’s power is fading
C.
foreshadow the dampening of the flame
D.
suggest that the dance is not yet over
E.
illustrate the dancer’s control of the situation
1 answer
1 answer