Question

In the context, what is the narrative effect of the phrase “devoutly snore”?
A) It indicates that the people are so pious as to be devout even while asleep.
B) It is an ironic attack on the people’s lack of attention to services.
C) It is an attack on church services, which have become less interesting than the theatre.
D) It rebukes people who carouse so late that they cannot stay awake at church.
E) It contrasts the respectful quietude of people in church with the commotion they make at plays.

Answer 1

Hint: Narrative effects are the effects where writers choose to highlight narrative and narrative strategies and can be used within other types of texts, such as within a text that is more informative or more persuasively oriented.

Complete answer:
Option A) It indicates that the people are so pious as to be devout even while asleep – is an incorrect answer because ‘it indicates that the people are so pious as to be devout even while asleep’ is not the narrative effect of the phrase “devoutly snores”. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option B) It is an ironic attack on the people’s lack of attention to services – is the correct answer because the entire poem is a satirical take on human behavior. In this context, when the poet says, 'devoutly snore', it becomes an ironic attack on people's lack of attention to services. Thus, this is the correct answer.
Option C) It is an attack on church services, which have become less interesting than the theatre – is an incorrect answer because the option is not appropriate and this is not the narrative effect of the phrase “devoutly snore”. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option D) It rebukes people who carouse so late that they cannot stay awake at church – is an incorrect answer because “devoutly snore” is not the narrative effect of this option. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.
Option E) It contrasts the respectful quietude of people in church with the commotion they make at plays – is an incorrect answer because ‘It contrasts the respectful quietude of people in church with the commotion they make at plays’ is not a narrative effect of the phrase “devoutly snore”. Thus, this is an incorrect answer.

Hence, the correct answer is Option’ B’.

Note:The other options do not fit best in the sentence because Option B explains the narrative effect of the phrase devoutly snore.