Question

i doubt not, sometimes, that you may steal, what then? poor beast, you must live! an odd ear in twenty - four sheaves is a small request; i will get a blessing with what is left, and never miss it. your small house, too, in ruin! its feeble walls the winds are scattering! and nothing now, to build a new one, of coarse green foliage! and bleak december’s winds coming, both bitter and piercing! you saw the fields laid bare and empty, and weary winter coming fast, and cozy here, beneath the blast, you thought to dwell, till crash! the cruel plough passed out through your cell. that small heap of leaves and stubble, has cost you many a weary nibble! now you are turned out, for all your trouble, without house or holding, to endure the winter’s sleety dribble, and hoar - frost cold. but mouse, you are not alone, in proving foresight may be vain: the best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew, and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy! still you are blessed, compared with me! the present only touches you: but oh! i backward cast my eye, on prospects dreary! and forward, though i cannot see,

1. how is the speaker affected by the knowledge that they ruined the mouse’s home?

a. they are surprised because they expected the home to be sturdier.
b. they feel justified because the mouse has been stealing food from them.
c. they feel bad because the mouse will be exposed to the elements and upcoming winter.
d. they are impressed that the mouse had the foresight to build a shelter in preparation for winter.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The poem doesn't show the speaker being surprised about the house's sturdiness. The focus is on the mouse's plight, not the house's strength. Eliminate A.
• Option B: The speaker says "I will get a blessing with what is left" about the mouse taking an ear in twenty - four sheaves, showing leniency, not justification. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Lines like "Your small house, too, in ruin!", "And bleak December’s winds coming, Both bitter and piercing!", and "Now you are turned out, for all your trouble, Without house or holding, To endure the winter’s sleety dribble, And hoar - frost cold" show the speaker feels bad as the mouse will face the elements and winter without a home. This matches.
• Option D: The line "In proving foresight may be vain" implies the speaker doesn't see the foresight as impressive but as futile, since the mouse's home was ruined despite its preparation. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. They feel bad because the mouse will be exposed to the elements and upcoming winter.