Question

Which statement best describes the symbolic and figurative meaning in the first line of this excerpt from Countee Cullen's “From the Dark Tower”?

We shall not always plant while others reap
The golden increment of bursting fruit,
Not always countenance, abject and mute
That lesser men should hold their brothers cheap;

a.)The speaker feels that he will someday trade places and reap while others plant.
b.)The speaker believes that he will one day share equally in the fruits of human labor.
c.)The speaker envisions a time when everyone will receive equal amounts of work and leisure.
d.)The speaker longs for a future without immense poverty and hardships.

Answer 1

The symbolic and figurative meaning in the first line of Countee Cullen's poem "From the Dark Tower" is that the speaker longs for a future without poverty and hardships.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symbolic and figurative meaning in the first line of Countee Cullen's poem "From the Dark Tower" is best described by option d.) The speaker longs for a future without immense poverty and hardships.

The line "We shall not always plant while others reap" expresses the speaker's desire for a time when there will be equality and fairness, where everyone can benefit from their efforts and not have their hard work taken advantage of by others.

This can be seen in the context of the poem as a whole, where Cullen explores themes of racial inequality and oppression and the speaker's hope for a better future for his people.

Answer 2

The statement which best describes the symbolic and figurative meaning in the first line of this excerpt from Countee Cullen's “From the Dark Tower” is: c.) The speaker envisions a time when everyone will receive equal amounts of work and leisure.