Question

Which two sets of lines from the poem suggest that the book is capable of human qualities or abilities?

A PRECIOUS, mouldering pleasure 'tis
To meet an antique book,
In just the dress his century wore;
A privilege, I think,

5 His venerable hand to take,
And warming in our own,
A passage back, or two, to make
To times when he was young.

His quaint opinions to inspect,
10 His knowledge to unfold
On what concerns our mutual mind,
The literature of old;

What interested scholars most,
What competitions ran
15 When Plato was a certainty,
And Sophocles a man;

When Sappho was a living girl,
And Beatrice wore
The gown that Dante deified.
20 Facts, centuries before,

He traverses familiar,
As one should come to town
And tell you all your dreams were true:
He lived where dreams were born.

25 His presence is enchantment,
You beg him not to go;
Old volumes shake their vellum heads
And tantalize, just so.

a) To meet an antique book,
In just the dress his century wore;

b)His quaint opinions to inspect,
His knowledge to unfold

c)And Beatrice wore
The gown that Dante deified.

d)What interested scholars most,
What competitions ran

e)When Plato was a certainty,
And Sophocles a man;

Answer 1

The correct answers would be A & B.

Answer 2

a) To meet an antique book,

In just the dress his century wore;

b)His quaint opinions to inspect,

His knowledge to unfold

Step-by-step explanation:

The phrases shown above suggest that the book is capable of human qualities or abilities. This is done through the figure of speech called Personification, who has the ability to give objects (like a book), or animals skills that only humans can do.

We can perceive this figure of speech when the speaker states that "To meet an antique book, In just the dress his century wore", when only humans have the ability to dress. We can also find this figure of speech when the speaker says "His quaint opinions to inspect, His knowledge to unfold", when only humans are able to express opinion and knowledge.