How does the allusion of the biblical Story of Samson express the meaning of the poem "The Warning" by Longfellow
Choices:
It cautions that slavery doesn't just destroy the slave, but also destroys American ideals.
It states that American talk about "liberty" is as meaningless as a destroyed building as long as people still hold slaves.
It expresses the belief that slaves uprisings might destroy the entire country.
It celebrates the tremendous political power that newly freed slaves had to vote and change the government.
Is it the third choice?
To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the use of the allusion to the biblical Story of Samson in "The Warning" by Longfellow. The poem uses the biblical character Samson as a metaphor to convey its meaning.
In the biblical story, Samson was a powerful figure who was betrayed by Delilah, leading to his capture, humiliation, and loss of strength. In the end, Samson uses his regained strength to bring down the pillars of the temple, destroying himself and his enemies.
In "The Warning," Longfellow uses the story of Samson to express the belief that slave uprisings might destroy the entire country. The poem warns the people of America about the potential consequences of ignoring the issue of slavery. By alluding to Samson, Longfellow suggests that the nation's failure to address the injustices of slavery could lead to its downfall, just as Samson's actions led to the destruction of the temple.
Therefore, the correct answer is: "It expresses the belief that slave uprisings might destroy the entire country."