Okayy Im really stuck on this one, Im usually good at analyzing and figuring out what a poem means. But not this one...
QUESTION: What does the author achieve by mixing exact and approximate numbers in "A Contribution to Statistics?"
A CONTRIBUTION TO STATISTICS
Out of a hundred people
those who always know better
-fifty-two
doubting every step
-nearly all the rest,
glad to lend a hand
if it doesn't take too long
-as high as forty-nine,
always good
because they can't be otherwise
-four, well maybe five,
able to admire without envy
-eighteen,
suffering illusions
induced by fleeting youth
-sixty, give or take a few,
not to be taken lightly
-forty and four,
living in constant fear
of someone or something
-seventy-seven,
capable of happiness
-twenty-something tops,
harmless singly, savage in crowds
-half at least,
cruel
when forced by circumstances
-better not to know
even ballpark figures,
wise after the fact
-just a couple more
than wise before it,
taking only things from life
-thirty
(I wish I were wrong),
hunched in pain,
no flashlight in the dark
-eighty-three
sooner or later,
righteous
-thirty-five, which is a lot,
righteous
and understanding
-three,
worthy of compassion
-ninety-nine,
mortal
-a hundred out of a hundred.
thus far this figure still remains unchanged.
omg i can never find awnsers just questions just lemme fricken cheat XD
In the poem "A Contribution to Statistics," the author achieves several things by mixing exact and approximate numbers. The use of exact numbers creates a sense of precision and accuracy, while the approximate numbers add a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. This blending of exact and approximate numbers serves to convey the complex and nuanced nature of the human condition that the poem seeks to explore.
To fully understand what the author achieves by mixing these numbers, let's dive deeper into the poem and analyze it stanza by stanza:
Stanza 1:
The author starts with the statement "Out of a hundred people," which establishes the context for the rest of the poem. By using an exact number, the author sets up the expectation that the following descriptions will apply to the entire group of a hundred people.
Stanza 2:
Here, the author introduces the individuals who "always know better" as fifty-two out of a hundred. This exact number emphasizes that a significant portion of the group possesses an unwavering confidence in their knowledge.
Stanza 3:
The author describes those who doubt every step as "nearly all the rest." While not an exact number, this approximation suggests that doubt is a prevalent characteristic among the majority of the group.
Stanza 4:
The author notes that those who are glad to lend a hand, but only if it doesn't take too long, can be as high as forty-nine out of a hundred. This exact range of numbers indicates a considerable portion of the group falling into this category.
Stanza 5:
The author describes the few individuals who are always good because they can't be otherwise as "four, well maybe five." This exact range, despite being relatively small, conveys the scarcity of individuals who possess this unwavering goodness.
Stanza 6:
The author states that eighteen out of a hundred are able to admire without envy. This exact number signifies a relatively smaller portion of the group possessing this quality.
Stanza 7:
The author notes that sixty, give or take a few, individuals suffer illusions induced by fleeting youth. This range of numbers suggests that a significant majority experiences this vulnerability.
Stanza 8:
Forty and four individuals are described as not to be taken lightly. While not an exact number, this phrase conveys that a substantial number falls into this category.
Stanza 9:
The author states that seventy-seven individuals live in constant fear of someone or something. This exact number represents a significant majority who experience this fear.
Stanza 10:
Only around twenty-something individuals are capable of happiness, as mentioned by the author. This approximate number implies that genuine happiness is relatively scarce.
Stanza 11:
The author describes half of the group as harmless singly but savage in crowds. While not an exact number, this phrase highlights the dichotomy between individual and collective behavior.
Stanza 12:
The author states that some individuals are cruel when forced by circumstances, and it's "better not to know even ballpark figures." This line suggests that the extent of cruelty and its prevalence is something one might not want to fully grasp.
Stanza 13:
"Few more than wise before it" denotes that a couple more individuals become wise after the fact. While not providing an exact number, this phrase suggests an incremental increase in wisdom.
Stanza 14:
The author states that only thirty individuals take only things from life. The use of an exact number signifies the rarity of those who solely extract what life has to offer.
Stanza 15:
Eighty-three individuals hunched in pain with no flashlight in the dark. This exact number represents a large majority of the group that experiences this suffering.
Stanza 16:
The author describes thirty-five individuals as righteous, which is a lot in comparison to other qualities mentioned. This exact number emphasizes the significant presence of righteousness.
Stanza 17:
Only three individuals are described as both righteous and understanding. This exact number signifies the rarity of this combination of qualities.
Stanza 18:
The author states that ninety-nine individuals are worthy of compassion. This exact number implies that almost the entire group possesses this quality.
Stanza 19:
In the concluding line, the author says, "mortal - a hundred out of a hundred." This exact number reminds us that everyone in the group is mortal, highlighting the shared human condition.
By strategically mixing exact and approximate numbers throughout the poem, the author creates a mosaic of qualities and characteristics that represent the diverse nature of humanity. This blend allows the author to capture the complexity, variations, and uncertainties inherent in human behavior and experiences. It also invites readers to reflect on their own understanding of statistics, how they interpret numbers, and how they perceive human qualities and attributes.