Question

Which of the following is implied by the poet's use of the word "still" (line 76245) ?

• A. The father's jovial spirits were not ultimately dampened when his son did not assume the errand.
• B. The father's pleased response to his son's refusal will continue indefinitely.
• C. The game between the father and son will continue indefinitely.
• D. The father did not express his gladness to his son.
• E. The boy's father was disappointed when his son did not assume the errand.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The father's jovial spirits were not ultimately dampened when his son did not assume the errand.

Option A is the correct answer. The poem hints at a playful relationship between a father and a son,who enjoy defying and one-upping each other. The word "still" here indicates the continual state of amusement the father had over his son's defiance. It is almost like he was expecting his son not to obey him, and he was not unhappy with the result. The statements of options D and E suggest that the father was displeased with the boy's reaction, which in contrast to the statement in the poem. Options B and C suggest this relationship to be the same indefinitely. This relationship, masking a game, we have to assume that someone is going to lose. Options B,C,D and E are incorrect in this context.