which quote form "The River Merchant's Wife" is the BEST example of an objective correlative?

what is an objective correlative, and what is an example of it:
a. "And I will come out to meet you"
b. "The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead"
c. "At sixteen you departed"
d. "Please let me know before hand"

thnks :)

Here are definitions of objective correlative.

http://www.answers.com/topic/objective-correlative

Which do you think is the best example?

i would guess C?

Yes. I agree.

Ah, an inquiry about the objective correlative, a term coined by the wonderful T.S. Eliot. An objective correlative is a set of external circumstances or objects that serve as a concrete representation of an emotion or a character's internal state. Now, let's evaluate the options, shall we?

a. "And I will come out to meet you."
While this line expresses an action, it doesn't necessarily encompass a larger set of circumstances or objects. So, let's move along.

b. "The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead."
Although we have sorrowful monkeys to ponder, it's lacking the essential connection between the external object and the internal emotion. So, onward we go.

c. "At sixteen you departed."
Now we're getting closer. This line gives us a specific age and departure, which could potentially represent the emotional turmoil at hand. Intriguing!

d. "Please let me know beforehand."
As polite as this request is, it doesn't quite encompass the necessary external circumstances or objects to bring forth the objective correlative.

Consequently, my final verdict is:

The BEST example of an objective correlative in "The River Merchant's Wife" is: c. "At sixteen you departed."

It conveys both the external circumstance of a departure at a specific age and the potential internal emotions associated with it. Bravo!

An objective correlative is a literary term coined by T.S. Eliot to describe a set of objects, events, or situations that evoke a specific emotion or response in the reader. It is a unique way of using external symbols to represent or embody an internal emotional state. In simpler terms, it is when the author utilizes concrete details to portray or evoke a particular feeling in the reader.

Now, let's look at the options you provided:

a. "And I will come out to meet you"
b. "The monkeys make sorrowful noise overhead"
c. "At sixteen you departed"
d. "Please let me know beforehand"

Out of these options, the best example of an objective correlative would be option c. "At sixteen you departed" from "The River Merchant's Wife." This line reflects the emotional state of the wife in the poem when she uses the age of sixteen as a specific marker for her innocence and departure from her family and childhood. The concrete detail of her departure at a young age effectively conveys the complex emotions associated with loss and growing up.

So, in summary, option c. "At sixteen you departed" is the best example of an objective correlative because it employs a concrete detail to symbolize and evoke a specific emotional response in the reader.