Question

In the poem, which lines most clearly mark the shift from the first to the second tone identified in Part A?

A) His head is crowned with a helmet of mud. / He wears it well. (lines 13–14)
B) He has set a new style in clothing; / He has introduced the chic of mud. (lines 16–17)
C) This is the hymn of the mud—the obscene, the filthy, the putrid, / The vast liquid grave of our armies. (lines 32–33)
D) The beautiful glistening golden mud that covers the hills like satin; / The mysterious gleaming silvery mud that is spread like enamel over the valleys. (lines 48–49)

Answer 1

Option C most clearly marks the shift in tone in the poem by using intense language to evoke strong emotions, contrasting with previous tones.

Step-by-step explanation:

In poetry, a shift in tone is often marked by a change in language or imagery that signals a move to a different emotional state or perspective. In the provided options regarding the lines that best mark the tone shift from the first to the second tone, option C (This is the hymn of the mud—the obscene, the filthy, the putrid, / The vast liquid grave of our armies) most clearly represents a tone shift. This shift is signaled through the use of intense, vivid language that evokes strong emotional responses and conveys a sense of gravity and repulsion, forming a contrast with any previous lighter tones or more neutral descriptions.