Select the correct answer.
In this line from Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself," what is the meaning of the word steeps?
Of the moon that descends the steeps of the soughing twilight,
A.
soaking
B.
saturation
C.
surroundings
D.
filling
E.
heights
A. soaking
The correct answer is A. soaking. In this line from Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself," the word "steeps" refers to the slopes or inclines that the moon descends, suggesting a continuous soaking or immersing motion.
To determine the meaning of the word "steeps" in Walt Whitman's poem "Song of Myself," we can analyze the context and use some strategies to arrive at the correct answer.
First, let's consider the line in which the word "steeps" appears: "Of the moon that descends the steeps of the soughing twilight." Here, the word "steeps" is used as a noun describing something that the moon descends.
Now, let's examine the options provided:
A. Soaking: This option suggests that the moon is descending into something wet or immersed. However, there is no indication of liquid mentioned in the line, so we can eliminate this option.
B. Saturation: This option implies that the moon is descending into a state of being fully saturated. Again, there is no mention of any context that supports this meaning, so we can eliminate this option as well.
C. Surroundings: This option suggests that the moon is descending into the surroundings or environment. While this is a possibility, it does not align perfectly with the word "steeps," which typically refers to slopes or inclines. So, let's keep this as a possible answer for now.
D. Filling: This option implies that the moon is descending while filling something. However, there is no explicit mention of an object or space being filled by the moon, so we can eliminate this option.
E. Heights: This option suggests that the moon is descending from a place of great elevation. This meaning aligns more closely with the usual definition of "steeps" as slopes or inclines. Therefore, this could be a potential answer.
Considering the options and the context, we can conclude that the most suitable answer for the meaning of "steeps" in this line is E. Heights. The word "steeps" conveys the image of the moon descending from high or elevated positions in the soughing twilight.