The following text is from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1913 poem “The Poet and His Song.” A song is but a

Question

The following text is from Paul Laurence Dunbar’s 1913 poem “The Poet and His Song.”

A song is but a little thing,

And yet what joy it is to sing!

In hours of toil it gives me zest,

And when at eve we long for rest;

When cows come home along the bars,

And in the fold we the bell,

As Night, the shepherd, herds his stars,

we sing my song, and all is well.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

Accepted Answer

Choice A is the best answer because is accurately states the main purpose of the text. The text begins by declaring that although a song is "but a little thing," or seemingly insignificant, singing it brings joy and gives the speaker of the text "zest," or excitement, in "hours of toil." The remainder of the text explores the idea that as night is falling, singing allows the speaker to feel that "all is well." Thus, the main purpose of the text is to convey how engaging in song makes the speaker feel. Choice B is incorrect. Although the text mentions a shepherd, it neither indies that the shepherd is singing nor does it compare the shepherd to the speaker. Choice C is incorrect. The text indies that the speaker works hard, engaging in "hours of toil," and it can be inferred that the speaker likely lives in a rural area, since cows and a cowbell can be heard nearby. However, the text does not suggest that the speaker is a farmer or feels excited about farming. Moreover, the shepherd in the text is not a literal reference to someone who herds sheep but instead a figurative description of the moon as the shepherd of the stars. Choice D is incorrect because in the text, the speaker is singing a song, not listening to others sing one. Moreover, the text describes the feelings that the speaker has when singing a song, not the song itself.

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