Question

How does the reader know that the poet is addressing Chicago directly?

A. He mentions railroads.
B. He respects the city's power.
C. He uses "you" and "I."
D. He uses the word "And" to begin sentences.

Answer 1

The poet addresses Chicago directly through the use of pronouns 'you' and 'I', which is evident in the direct communication suggested by lines like 'These and all else were to me the same as they are to you.' This literary device is known as apostrophe.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reader can deduce that the poet is addressing Chicago directly because of the use of personal pronouns such as 'you' and 'I', fostering a dialogic exchange between the city and the speaker. For example, in the provided text, lines such as 'These and all else were to me the same as they are to you', suggest a direct communication. This technique, known as apostrophe, involves addressing an absent or unidentified person or an anthropomorphized entity like a city and is evident in the shift to the second-person address within the poem.

Moreover, the intimate details and contemplative tone, which seem to bridge the speaker's experiences with the city's, indicate that the poet is engaging in a conversation with the city. Other options such as railroad mentions (A), respect for the city's power (B), and the use of 'And' to begin sentences (D), do not convey the notion of direct address in the same way the use of pronouns does.