Question

Sonnet: To Liberty (1796)

by Mary Robinson

Oh! Liberty! transcendent and sublime!

Born on the mountain's solitary crest;

Nature thy nurse, thy fire unconquered Time,

Truth, the pure inmate of thy glowing breast!

5 Oft dost thou wander by the billowy deep,

Scattering the sands that bind the level shore,

Or, towering, brave the desolating roar

That bids the tyrant tempest lash the steep!

'Tis thine, when sanguinary demons lour,

10 Amidst the thickening hosts to force thy way;

To quell the minions of oppressive power,

And shame the vaunting nothings of a day!

Still shall the human mind thy name adore,

Till chaos reigns - and worlds shall be no more!

In line 4, why is Truth described as "the pure inmate of thy glowing breast"?
A. Truth represents all that can be learned from Nature.
B. Truth represents the strength of American democracy.
C. The speaker considers Truth to be a prisoner of Liberty.
D. The speaker considers Truth to be the foundation of Liberty.

Answer 1

Truth is described as "the pure inmate of thy glowing breast" to symbolize its essential role and close relationship with Liberty, meaning Truth is the foundation of Liberty.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the sonnet Sonnet: To Liberty by Mary Robinson, Truth is described as "the pure inmate of thy glowing breast" in line 4 to convey that Truth is closely guarded and inherently resides within Liberty, much like a valued being is kept within one's heart. This metaphor suggests that Liberty nurtures and is intrinsically linked with Truth, implying that without Truth, Liberty would not be as pure or righteous. Hence, the correct answer to why Truth is described this way is to indicate that Truth is foundational to Liberty (option D).

Answer 2

C. The speaker considers Truth to be a prisoner of Liberty.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the excerpt from Sonnet: To Liberty (1796) by Mary Robinson,the poet talks about nature.

In line 4, Truth described as "the pure inmate of thy glowing breast" because the speaker/poet considers Truth to be a prisoner of Liberty