Untitled Poem
from Stephen Crane's 1899 book, War is Kind
A newspaper is a collection of half–injustices
Which, bawled by boys from mile to mile,
Spreads its curious opinion
To a million merciful and sneering men,
5While families cuddle the joys of the fireside
When spurred by tale of dire lone agony
A newspaper is a court
Where every one is kindly and unfairly tried
By a squalor of honest men.
10A newspaper is a market
Where wisdom sells its freedom
And melons are crowned by the crowd.
A newspaper is a game
Where his error scores the player victory
15While another's skill wins death.
A newspaper is a symbol;
It is fetless life's chronical,
A collection of loud tales
Concentrating eternal stupidities,
20That in remote ages lived unhaltered,
Roaming through a fenceless world.
Multiple Choice Question
The poet presents two central ideas—one regarding the role of newspapers and the other regarding the role of newspaper readers. What is the best description of how the poet sees these two interacting?
A.
Newspapers are necessary evils, but can still be used by readers to make informed decisions.
B.
In a democracy readers can count on newspapers to help them make decisions.
C.
Newspapers and their readers are both guilty of half–injustices.
D.
The government should protect readers and oversee newspapers.