Question

How do the allusions work together to create an overall tone and meaning in the poem? They create sympathy for the speaker, who finds little worth admiring in the period in which he lives. They create a sense of awe by likening the reading of Chapman’s book to the discoveries of famous explorers and scientists. They create sarcasm by suggesting that the speaker is ridiculous to compare Chapman’s book to the world’s great discoveries. They create a feeling of regret for all the great works that, like Chapman’s book, are unknown or underappreciated.

Answer 1

The allusions in the poem work together to evoke a sense of regret for underappreciated works, similar to Chapman's book, and create sympathy for the speaker who perceives little worth in their contemporary period. The allusions also contribute to a tone of awe by likening Chapman's book to the monumental discoveries of explorers and scientists, emphasizing its significance.