Final answer:
The phrase 'Where the branched thought, new grown with pleasant pain,' denotes the discomfort accompanying the expansion and divergence of thought, a sign of intellectual growth, aligning with option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase “Where the branched thought, new grown with pleasant pain,” suggests the complex process of intellectual growth and the discomfort that sometimes accompanies learning and changing one's perspectives. This aligns most closely with option A, portraying the process of intellectual growth. The phrase implies a development of thought that is not straightforward but rather diverging or branching into new directions, and this development can come with a type of pain that is paradoxically pleasant. The use of “branched” signifies a divergence or expansion of thought, “grown” emphasizes the development or maturation aspect, and “pain” indicates that this process, while potentially beneficial, is not without some measure of discomfort or challenge.