Directions: In this section you have short passages. In this passage, you will find some items based on the passage. First, read a passage and answer the items based on it. You are required to select your answers based on the contents of the passage and the opinion of the author only. What is truth? said jesting Pilate, and would not stay for an answer. Certainly there be, that delight in giddiness, and count it a bondage to fix a belief; affecting free-will in thinking, as well as in acting. And though the sects of philosophers of that kind be gone, yet there remain certain discoursing wits, which are of the same veins, though there be not so much blood in them, as was in those of the ancients. But it is not only the difficulty and labour, which men take in finding out of truth, nor again, that when it is found, it imposeth upon man's thoughts, that doth bring lies in favour; but a natural though corrupt love of the lie itself. One of the later school of the Grecians, examineth matter, and is at a stand to think what should be in it, that men should love lies; where neither they make for pleasure as with poets, nor for advantage, as with the merchants; but for the lie's sake. But I cannot tell; this same truth, is a naked, and open day-light, that doth not show the masks, and mummeries, and triumphs, of the world, half so stately and daintily as candle- lights. Truth may perhaps come to the price of a pearl, that showeth best by day; but it will not rise to the price of a diamond, or carbuncle, that showeth best in varied lights. A mixture of a lie doth ever add pleasure. Doth any man doubt, that if there were taken out of men's minds, vain opinions, flattering hopes, false valuations, imaginations as one would, and the like, but it would leave the minds, of a number of men, poor shrunken things, full of melancholy and indisposition, and unpleasing to themselves?
What literary device does the author use when he says, "truth is naked"?
personification
Understanding Literary Devices in Passage Analysis
The question asks us to identify the literary device used by the author in the phrase, "truth is naked," based on the provided passage. To answer this, we need to analyze the phrase and understand common literary devices.
The passage discusses the nature of truth and why people might prefer lies. The author uses several descriptions to characterize truth, including comparing it to "open day-light" and a "pearl." The specific phrase we are analyzing is "truth is naked."
Let's consider what the word "naked" typically describes. It refers to a state of being unclothed, usually applied to people or animals. When the author says "truth is naked," they are applying a characteristic of a living being (being naked) to an abstract concept (truth).
Identifying the Literary Device: "Truth is Naked"
Applying human characteristics or qualities to inanimate objects, abstract ideas, or animals is known as personification.
- The abstract concept is "truth."
- The characteristic applied is "naked," which is a human or animal state.
By saying "truth is naked," the author is suggesting that truth is exposed, without disguise, much like a person who is naked is fully visible without clothing to hide anything. This gives truth a human-like quality of having a form that can be unclothed or revealed.
Evaluating Other Options
- Symbolism: While nakedness can symbolize various things (like vulnerability, honesty, purity), the primary device here is not just symbolism but giving truth a human attribute.
- Allegory: An allegory is a complete narrative where abstract ideas or moral qualities are represented by characters or events. "Truth is naked" is a phrase, not a narrative, so it's not an allegory.
- Paradox: A paradox is a seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true. "Truth is naked" is not contradictory; it is a metaphorical description.
Based on the definition and application, the phrase "truth is naked" is an example of personification because it attributes a human characteristic (being naked) to the abstract concept of truth.
Conclusion on Literary Device
The literary device used when the author says, "truth is naked," is personification. This phrase helps the reader visualize truth as something revealed and exposed, lacking disguise, by giving it a human-like state of being naked.
Revision Table: Understanding Literary Devices
| Literary Device | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Personification | Giving human qualities or characteristics to non-human things (objects, animals, abstract ideas). | The wind whispered through the trees. (Wind is given the human action of whispering) |
| Symbolism | Using an object or idea to represent something else, often a deeper meaning. | A dove is a symbol of peace. |
| Allegory | A story with a hidden meaning, where characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral principles. | George Orwell's Animal Farm is an allegory for the Russian Revolution. |
| Paradox | A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains a deeper truth. | Less is more. |
Additional Information on Analyzing Literary Devices
Identifying literary devices is a key skill in reading comprehension and literary analysis. Authors use these devices to add depth, imagery, and impact to their writing. When analyzing a passage for literary devices:
- Read the text carefully and look for figurative language – instances where words are used in a way that is different from their literal meaning.
- Consider the specific phrase or sentence in question and what it is describing.
- Compare the description to the definitions of various literary devices like simile, metaphor, personification, symbolism, hyperbole, etc.
- Think about the effect the literary device has on the reader's understanding or perception of the subject.
- In the case of personification, check if a human action, emotion, or characteristic is attributed to something non-human.
Understanding these techniques helps students appreciate the author's craft and gain a richer understanding of the text's meaning and tone.
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
