Untitled Poem
D
from Stephen Crane's 1899 book, War is Kind
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A newspaper is a collection of half-injustices
Which, bawled by boys from mile to mile, Spreads its curious opinion
To a million merciful and sneering men,
While families cuddle the joys of the fireside When spurred by tale of dire lone agony A newspaper is a court
Where every one is kindly and unfairly tried
By a squalor of honest men.
A newspaper is a market
Where wisdom sells its freedom
And melons are crowned by the crowd.
A newspaper is a game
Where his error scores the player victory
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While another's skill wins death.
A newspaper is a symbol:
It is fetless life's chronical,
A collection of loud tales
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Concentrating eternal stupidities,
That in remote ages lived unhaltered, Roaming through a fenceless world.
Read these lines from the poem.
Where every one is kindly and unfairly tried
By a squalor of honest men.
What is ironic about the trial mentioned in these lines?
A.
The "honest" men from these lines in the poem live in "squalor," meaning that honesty is not rewarded.
B.
Every individual is tried, only though few of them do wrong, making it an irony of justice.
C.
The trial operates both kindly and unfairly, which is an ironic paradox.
D
.
The "honesty" of the men on trial is questioned, while the newspapers are much less honest as institutions.
1 answer
1 answer