Question

Match each excerpt from William Dean Howells's story "Editha" to a specific tone.

. it won't be much of a war, and I guess Gearson don't think so, either. The other fellows will back down as soon as they see we mean it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I'm going back to bed, myself."

". . . you've done a wicked thing, Editha Balcom."

" . . . What a thing it is to have a country that can't be wrong, but if it is, is right anyway!"


"That ignoble peace! It was no peace at all, with that crime and shame at our very gates."


choices: Sarcasm, careless amusement, criticism, vacant and fake idealism

Answer 1

VACANT AND FAKE IDEALISM - . it won't be much of a war, and I guess Gearson don't think so, either. The other fellows will back down as soon as they see we mean it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I'm going back to bed, myself."

CARELESS AMUSEMENT - ". . . you've done a wicked thing, Editha Balcom."

SARCASM - " . . . What a thing it is to have a country that can't be wrong, but if it is, is right anyway!"

CRITICISM - "That ignoble peace! It was no peace at all, with that crime and shame at our very gates."

Answer 2

VACANT AND FAKE IDEALISM - . it won't be much of a war, and I guess Gearson don't think so, either. The other fellows will back down as soon as they see we mean it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I'm going back to bed, myself."

CARELESS AMUSEMENT - ". . . you've done a wicked thing, Editha Balcom."

SARCASM - " . . . What a thing it is to have a country that can't be wrong, but if it is, is right anyway!"

CRITICISM - "That ignoble peace! It was no peace at all, with that crime and shame at our very gates."