Question

Select the correct answer.

Read the excerpt from paragraph 2 of the passage.



He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose, like an honest man and a soldier; and now his words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes.



What does Benedick mean when he says Claudio's new way of speaking is a "fantastical banquet"?



A.

It is precise.

B.

It is confusing.

C.

It is unnecessarily elaborate.

D.

It is unusually commanding.

Answer 1

Benedick means that Claudio's new way of speaking is unnecessarily elaborate, like a lavish feast with many elaborate dishes. The correct answer is option: C) It is unnecessarily elaborate.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Benedick refers to Claudio's new way of speaking as a "fantastical banquet," he is conveying that Claudio's words are unnecessarily elaborate. This metaphor suggests that just as a fancy feast contains many different dishes that may be more about style than substance, Claudio's speech is overflowing with fanciful language that is ornate and unnecessarily complicated. To put it simply, Benedick is criticizing Claudio's speech for being too showy and lacking in straightforwardness, which he finds confusing and indirect compared to Claudio's usual manner of speaking.