Question

Read the lines from “A March in the Ranks Hard-Prest, and the Road Unknown.”

A route through a heavy wood with muffled steps in the darkness,
Our army foil’d with loss severe, and the sullen remnant retreating,

What does the use of the phrase "sullen remnant retreating" suggest?


Part of the troop has become separated from the larger group.

The troop has been successful in eliminating most of the enemy.

Only a portion of the original troop remains alive after battle.

The troop’s surviving members refuse to continue the fight.

Answer 1

The meanings of words can be understood through context clues. The use of the phrase "sullen remnant retreating" suggests

The troop’s surviving members refuse to continue the fight.

The word sullen is synonymous with resentful and moody. The use of the phrase indicates that the soldiers grew resentful because of the loss they sustained.

Because of this, they became resentful and refused to continue their fight. We know this because they began retreating.

Summarily, sentence B provides a good meaning of the phrase, "sullen remnant retreating".

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

Only a portion of the original troop remains alive after battle.

Step-by-step explanation:

They're sullen, but they're only retreating bc everyone died, not bc they refuse to fight.