Epigrams By Rabindranath Tagore

Question

I will close my door to shut out all possible errors. "But how am I to enter in?" cried Truth. "I obey not law, I am free!"—this is the boast of Dream. Truth says sadly to him, "That is why thou art false." Dream says, "Truth is bound in an endless chain of necessity." Truth says, "That is why I am perfectly true." Favor complains, "I give but never receive." Mercy says, "I give, but never ask." Thou in the ditch hast an unlimited supply of mud, But what has he who walks above thee? The wasp murmured in contempt: "How ludicrously small are the honeycombs the bees make!" "Try to make a honeycomb still smaller," said the bee. "What costly preparations are for me," says the canal; "Rivers come rushing without ever being asked." "Sir Canal," say his courtiers to him, "The poor rivers are made only to supply you with water." The First takes the hand of the Last in a frank friendship. The Second keeps proudly aloof. The Echo always mocks the sound—to conceal that she is he debtor.

Which group of words from the selection conveys the author’s tone about his topic?

A. 

alarming, dark, pessimistic

B. 

alluring, complex, refreshing

C. 

critical, downtrodden, foreboding

D. 

creative, simplistic, optimistic

Answer 1

I believe that the tone of this passage is C. Critical, downtrodden, foreboding. Each entity looks at what the previous one has said and criticizes it. They then make their own statements, each one made to point out their own superiority. As the passage goes on, the statements become darker and more foreboding.