Select the correct answer.
In this excerpt from the poem "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes, what is the meaning of the word tread?
Her deck, once red with heroes' blood
Where knelt the vanquished foe,
When winds were hurrying o'er the flood
And waves were white below,
No more shall feel the victor's tread,
Or know the conquered knee;—
A.
crush
B.
pace
C.
quell
D.
trudge
E.
march
E. march
To determine the meaning of the word "tread" in this excerpt from the poem "Old Ironsides" by Oliver Wendell Holmes, we can look at the context of the surrounding lines. In these lines, the poem describes a ship's deck that was once covered in heroes' blood and where the vanquished foe kneeled. The poem then states that the deck will no longer "feel the victor's tread" or "know the conquered knee."
From this context, we can infer that "tread" refers to the act of stepping or walking on the deck. This suggests that the correct answer would be a word that means a similar action or movement.
Looking at the options provided:
A. crush - This does not provide the meaning of stepping or walking.
B. pace - This is a possible option as it refers to a particular style or rate of walking.
C. quell - This does not provide the meaning of stepping or walking.
D. trudge - This is a possible option as it refers to walking laboriously or with difficulty.
E. march - This is a possible option as it refers to walking in a military manner with a regular, measured, and purposeful stride.
Considering the options, B (pace), D (trudge), and E (march) could all potentially fit the meaning of "tread" in this context. However, to determine the correct answer, we would need to consult the original text of the poem, as the author's intention is crucial in understanding the precise meaning.
Without the original text, it is not possible to definitively select the correct answer.