Question

Which of the following best describes how the author develops the speaker' point of view about the exceptionalism of The West throughout the poem?

A.By using plenty of imagery and diction to paint an elaborate picture of The West as stunningly beautiful.
B.By using quantitative examples to convince the reader of the economic gains one will find out West.
C.By using comparative language to suggest that life out West is friendlier, more beautiful, more rewarding, and more joyful than anywhere else in the country.
D.By using disparaging imagery to paint a negative picture of the eastern part of the country.

Answer 1

The most likely answer is C.

Using comparative language to suggest that life out West is friendlier, more beautiful, more rewarding, and more joyful than anywhere else in the country often helps the author develop the speaker's point of view about the exceptionalism of The West in contrast to other regions.

Answer 2

The author crafts the speaker's view on the West's exceptionalism by using comparative language and vivid imagery, suggesting the West's life as more rewarding and depicting it as a place of great potential and magic.

Step-by-step explanation:

The author develops the speaker's point of view about the exceptionalism of The West throughout the poem by primarily using comparative language and imagery. This is seen as the author suggests that life out West is more rewarding and beautiful than other parts of the country. For instance, within the provided text, the imagery of escaping harsh realities and painting beautiful scenes represents the allure of the West. Artistic creations, like that of the young artist's work, imbue the West with a sense of magic and potential, contrasting with the prosaic existence elsewhere. Moreover, the discussions of American Progress and the impact of expansion reflect on the individualistic spirit nurtured in the frontier.

Furthermore, descriptions of the wilderness, and references to historical perspectives on the expansion into the West show how the text's

stylistic choices

and use of detail support the development of this viewpoint. Phrases like 'diaphanously and precariously-clad America floats westward' or the invocation of the 'Star of Empire' are rich in

sensory language

, affecting both the tone and meaning of the text to emphasize the greatness attributed to The West.