Question

Read the stanza from Pablo Neruda's poem "Don't Go Far Off."

Don't leave me, even for an hour, because then the little drops of anguish will all run together, the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift into me, choking my lost heart.
Which option most effectively explains the implicit meaning of this stanza?
A) The speaker is afraid of being alone and longs for the presence of their loved one.
B) The speaker is angry and resentful towards their loved one for leaving.
C) The speaker is indifferent to their loved one's absence.
D) The speaker is excited about the prospect of solitude.

Answer 1

Option A most effectively captures the overwhelming emotional response to a loved one's potential absence in Pablo Neruda's poem, which is conveyed through the imagery of anguish and heartache, and not anger, indifference, or excitement about solitude.

Step-by-step explanation:

Option A most effectively explains the implicit meaning of the stanza from Pablo Neruda's poem "Don't Go Far Off." The stanza conveys a deep sense of dread and anticipatory loss that the speaker feels at the prospect of being separated from their loved one, even for a short period.

The imagery of "little drops of anguish" running together and the smoke looking for a home that then chokes the speaker's heart indicates an overwhelming emotional response to the potential absence of the beloved.

The other options do not match the deep emotional context provided in the stanza. Option B suggests anger, while the tone of the stanza is one of fear and despair. Option C implies indifference, which contrasts with the pronounced feelings of longing shown by the speaker. Lastly, Option D speaks of excitement about solitude, which is clearly opposite of the speaker's sentiments. option A