Read the passage.
excerpt from Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan
Paton
Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that's
the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth
too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the
water runs through his fingers, nor stand too
silence when the setting sun makes red the veld
with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds
of his land are singing. Nor give too much of his
heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him
if he gives too much.
How does the language in this excerpt affect the
reader's understanding of the novel's setting?
The description captures the essential
happiness of most South African
O people, while also suggesting that some
small portion of the population is
gripped by fear.
The description captures the unique
love for their children that the South
African people feel, while also
suggesting that those children will not
love their country as their parents do.
The description captures the sense that
South Africa has turned a corner and is
O headed in a better direction, while also
suggesting that some small problems
still remain to be solved.
The description captures the great
beauty of South Africa, while also
suggesting the suffering and
desperation that characterizes the
country at the time this novel is set.