Question

tean on a lofty vase’s side,
where china’s gayest art had dyed
the azure flowers that blow;
demurest of the tabby kind,
the pensive selima, reclined, 8
gazed on the lake below.

her conscious tail her joy declared;
the fair round face, the snowy beard,
the velvet of her paws,
her coat, that with the tortoise vies, 10
her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,
she saw, and purred applause.

still had she gazed, but ’midst the tide
two angel forms were seen to glide,
the genii of the stream; 15
their scaly armour’s tyrian hue
thro’ richest purple to the view
betrayed a golden gleam.

the hapless nymph with wonder saw:
a whisker first and then a claw, 20
with many an ardent wish,
she stretched in vain to reach the prize.
what female heart can gold despise?
what cat’s averse to fish?

presumptuous maid! with looks intent 25
again she stretched, again she bent,
nor knew the gulf between.
(malignant fate sat by, and smiled)
the slippery verge her feet beguiled,
she tumbled headlong in. 30

eight times emerging from the flood
she mewed to every watery god,
some speedy aid to send.
no dolphin came, no nereid stirred;
nor cruel tom, nor susan heard. 35
a favorite has no friend!

from hence, ye beauties, undeceived,
know, one false step is never retrieved,
and be with caution bold.
not all that tempts your wandering eyes 40
and heedless hearts is lawful prize,
nor all, that glisters, gold.

1. which best describes how the passage draws on other works of literature?

a it alludes to the biblical stories of resurrection and redemption in hopes of bring back the cat.

b it refers to elevated, sorrowful works of literature to overdramatize the cat’s death and to poke fun at sentimentality.

c it does not reference other works of literature or mimic other literature, as it is a completely unique and one of kind work.

d it uses multiple references to great elegiac literature to pay proper respect to the utter sorrow felt at the loss of the cat.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The passage is about a cat's death, not biblical resurrection/redemption themes, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The poem uses elevated, sorrowful literary styles (like epic or tragic tones) but applies them to a cat's death, which is a humorous contrast to the serious tone of such works, mocking sentimentality. This fits.
• Option C: The poem does reference literary styles (e.g., epic-like descriptions for a cat), so C is wrong.
• Option D: The tone is humorous, not respectful sorrow, so D is incorrect.

Answer:

B. It refers to elevated, sorrowful works of literature to overdramatize the cat’s death and to poke fun at sentimentality.