Question

The Solitary Summer

by Elizabeth von Arnim (adapted excerpt)
(2) May 2nd.-Last night after dinner, when we were in
the garden, I said, "I want to be alone for a whole
summer, and get to the very dregs of life. I want to be as
idle as I can, so that my soul may have time to grow.
Nobody shall be invited to stay with me, and if any one
calls they will be told that I am out, or away, or sick. I
shall spend the months in the garden, and on the plain,
and in the forests. I shall watch the things that happen in
my garden, and see where I have made mistakes. On
wet days I will go into the thickest parts of the forests,
where the pine needles are everlastingly dry, and when
the sun shines I'll lie on the heath and see how the
broom flares against the clouds. I shall be perpetually
happy, because there will be no one to worry me. Out
there on the plain there is silence, and where there is
silence I have discovered there is peace."
(2) "Mind you do not get your feet damp," said the Man
of Wrath.
(3) It was the evening of May Day, and the spring had
taken hold of me body and soul. The sky was full of
stars, and the garden of scents, and the borders of
wallflowers and sweet, sly pansies. All day there had
been a breeze, and all day slow masses of white clouds
mad been sailing across the blue. Now it was so still, so
motionless, so breathless, that it seemed as though a
mint hand had hann inid on the noden canthing and
Select the correct answer from each drop-down menu.
How does the idea that people disagree about the value of solitude develop over the course of the text?
First, the narrator and her husband
1
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living so far from others
argue about the narrator's interest in spending time alone in nature
disagree whether it is nicer to be in nature at night or during the day

Answer 1

Disagreement on the value of solitude is developed through the narrator's yearning for personal growth through solitude, contrasted with her husband's practical concerns, and various character experiences and societal views depicting solitude as both peaceful and suspect.

Step-by-step explanation:

Over the course of the text, the idea that people disagree about the value of solitude develops through contrasting desires and experiences. First, the narrator expresses a deep longing for solitude to allow her soul to grow, envisioning a summer spent in nature, observing her garden, and enjoying the peace that silence brings.

Conflict arises with her husband’s pragmatic response about the practicality of such solitude, cautioning her to not dampen her feet, suggesting disagreement or at least a lack of full understanding of her desire.

The narrative then presents various characters who experience and reflect on solitude differently. Some find peace and happiness in solitude, feeling a deep connection with nature; while others experience loneliness or a sense that solitude could be viewed negatively, as either a prison or as something potentially dangerous. Besides, societal perspectives on those who seek solitude might be of suspicion, considering their motives questionable.