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Post Test: American Literature Through the Eighteenth Century

Select the correct answer.

Read the following excerpt from Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing":

"I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong.
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand
singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands..."

How does the repetition of the word "singing" impact the meaning of the poem?

A. The repetition suggests that America is only strong when everyone is united.
B. The repetition illustrates the joy that the working class finds in their various trades.
C. The repetition emphasizes a positive, cohesive view of American identity and culture.
D. The repetition helps emphasize how divided American society is.