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Diction and Syntax Videos 11 videos

AP English Literature and Composition 1.3 Passage Drill 1
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AP English Literature and Composition 1.3 Passage Drill 1. In the context of the passage, what does the word "compass" in line 15 mean?

AP English Literature and Composition 1.6 Passage Drill 1
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AP English Literature and Composition 1.6 Passage Drill 1. To what idea does the phrase "my opinion" in line 49 refer?

AP English Literature and Composition 1.10 Passage Drill 1
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AP English Literature and Composition 1.10 Passage Drill 1. The speaker's diction in this passage serves to characterize him as which of the f...

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AP English Literature and Composition 1.6 Passage Drill 7 193 Views


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Description:

AP English Literature and Composition 1.6 Passage Drill 7. What is the function of the parenthetical phrase in lines 42 through 43?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:04

Here's your shmoop du jour...

00:06

You're probably getting that itch to hit the pause button again, so you can review the

00:09

passage, huh? Yeah, we're basically mind-readers.

00:33

What is the function of the parenthetical phrase in lines 42 through 43?

00:38

And here are the potential answers...

00:44

Okay, so this question wants us to look at the parenthetical phrase in lines 42 through 43:

00:50

That's the stuff between the parentheses.

00:53

and determine why it's there.

00:55

Other than, you know, to meet Dickens' desired word count. He must have had his publisher

00:59

breathing down his neck...

01:02

Here are lines 42 through 43:

01:04

"As the deceased had taken no further notice of his nephew in his lifetime, than sending

01:09

to his eldest boy (who had been christened after him, on desperate speculation) a silver

01:16

spoon in a morocco case."

01:18

So, what are we talking about here?

01:20

"Christened after him," meaning that his eldest boy was named after him.

01:25

"On desperate speculation"

01:28

Well, speculation can mean a few different things, but in this case we're talking about monetary speculation.

01:36

In other words, the boy was named after a wealthy relative in hopes that relative would

01:41

appreciate the gesture so much, that he might throw a few hundred pounds their way.

01:51

Okay, now which answer choice says as much?

01:54

The silver spoon is nice, but doesn't do you much good if you have nothing to put on it.

01:59

So B is no good.

02:00

The Nickleby's might be poor, but that isn't what this parenthetical is about, so we can nix C.

02:06

There's no mention of silver, so D is an easy out,

02:09

nor of Ralph Nickleby's generous nature. E is out, as well.

02:13

Which leaves A: "to emphasize the gamble Mr. and Mrs. Nickleby took in naming their child."

02:19

Well, sure. They named him purely on the off-chance that Uncle Moneybags would feel so honored

02:24

he'd start emptying his money bags.

02:31

Probably not the best reason for settling on a baby name. Although, if there are any

02:35

Shmoop Smiths being born out there, we'd be mighty flattered.

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