Question

Read this excerpt from the speech.

When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

What does the phrase “reputation falls to pieces” mean?

A.) Reputation isn’t important; what matters is what one's friends think about them.

B.) One can prove a bad reputation is false by being kind to animals.

C.) A person’s reputation is seriously damaged or destroyed.

D.) A person who takes care of his or her dog will always have a good reputation.

Answer 1

The correct answer is C.

"Falling to pieces" is just imagery for being destroyed.

Answer 2

C.) A person’s reputation is seriously damaged or destroyed.

Step-by-step explanation:

"The Eulogy on the Dog" by George Graham Vest is a speech given by him on a case regarding Drum, a foxhound who was shot. His owner sued the accused for damages, leading to Vest writing about this famous court case.

The passage is from that eulogy, which tells of a dog's faithfulness to it's owner and best friend. The phrase "reputation falls to pieces" in the excerpt means that a person's reputation is seriously damaged or destroyed. "Falling to pieces" is a literal meaning for things falling apart, damaged or destroyed.