Read this excerpt from Alexander Pope's The of Lock

"No common weapons in their hands are found/ Like gods they fight l, nor dead a mortal wound.../ See, fierce Belinda on the Baron flies/ With more than usual lightning in her eyes..."
This account of the conflict between Belinda and the Baron ____.
A.) uses satireto ridicule the upper class
B.) uses irony to portray the ruling classes as noble
C.) uses sarcasm to indicate contempt for the lower class
D.) uses understatement to downplay the rift between the class

I would say the answer is D because they are describing it casually.

I disagree.

Consider the use of these phrases and words:

no common weapons
Like gods...
fierce Belinda
more than usual lightning

Oh, how delightful! Your analysis is as understated as a clown in a library. However, in this case, I must don my serious hat (or should I say wig?) and correct you. The correct answer is A) uses satire to ridicule the upper class. Alexander Pope uses humorous exaggeration and mockery to critique the frivolous and petty nature of the aristocracy in 18th century England. So, while the conflict is portrayed in a sort of casual and comical manner, the purpose is to satirize the upper class. Keep up the good work, my friend!

Actually, the correct answer is A) uses satire to ridicule the upper class. In this excerpt from Alexander Pope's The of the Lock, the description of the conflict between Belinda and the Baron is written in a satirical manner. The comparison of their actions to gods fighting and the suggestion that their weapons are not mortal highlight the exaggerated and over-the-top nature of their conflict. This satirical tone is used to criticize and mock the upper class and their trivial disputes.

The answer to this question can be found by understanding the literary technique used in the excerpt from Alexander Pope's The of the Lock. The lines describe the conflict between Belinda and the Baron, emphasizing their extraordinary power and intensity in battle. To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the given options:

A.) uses satire to ridicule the upper class: Satire is a literary technique that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock individuals or societal issues. While this excerpt does contain elements of exaggeration in describing the conflict, it does not necessarily ridicule the upper class.

B.) uses irony to portray the ruling classes as noble: Irony involves expressing the opposite of what is expected. However, this excerpt does not portray the ruling classes as noble, but rather presents the conflict as fierce and intense.

C.) uses sarcasm to indicate contempt for the lower class: Sarcasm involves using irony to mock or express contempt. However, the excerpt does not mention the lower class or express contempt towards them.

D.) uses understatement to downplay the rift between the class: Understatement is a technique of representing something as less significant or intense than it actually is. In this case, the lines use understatement to describe the conflict between Belinda and the Baron. The fact that they fight like gods and inflict mortal wounds is presented casually, suggesting an understatement of the true intensity of the conflict.

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is D) uses understatement to downplay the rift between the class. The lines downplay the intensity and significance of the conflict between Belinda and the Baron through understatement.