Question

the following text is from \joy in the woods,\ by claude mckay, first published in 1920.
there is joy in the woods just now,
the leaves are whispers of song,
and the birds make mirth on the bough
and music the whole day long,
and god! to dwell in the town
in these springlike summer days,
on my brow an unfading frown
and hate in my heart always—
a machine out of gear, aye, tired,
yet forced to go on—for i’m hired.

which choice best describes the function of the seventh and eighth lines in the overall structure of the text?
a
they provide the reason for the feelings described in lines 1 - 4.
b
they illustrate a sharp contrast in feelings about the town and the woods.
c
they reveal that the speaker prefers the town to the woods in summer.
d
they show similarities in the speaker’s moods and the weather around him.

Explanation:

Lines 1-4 depict joyful, peaceful natural scenes in the woods. Lines 7-8 shift to the speaker's persistent hatred and weariness, creating a stark contrast between the woods' joy and the speaker's negative feelings tied to the town. This contrast is the core function of these lines.

Answer:

B. They illustrate a sharp contrast in feelings about the town and the woods.