Question

The errand described in the poem is a quest for ________.

• A. nonsensical components that do not form a coherent whole
• B. tools the speaker needs to continue his work
• C. someone in the neighborhood more foolish than the man's son
• D. degrees of understanding that come with maturity
• E. common ground on which father and son can identify with each other

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

nonsensical components that do not form a coherent whole

In the poem, the speaker asks his son to run to his mom and tell her to get the father a bubble for the spirit and a knot for his tie. A knot is something you get using a tie. It's not a separate tool. Hence, what the father asked his son to get does not make sense. Thus, A is the correct answer.

The other choices are incorrect.