Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. 'Sir Raven, you are a handsome bird. Such feathers! If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King.'
'Such feathers' refer to _____ feathers. a. shiny and beautiful b. black and dull c. grey and long d. short and unattractive
a. shiny and beautiful
Why would the birds of the woods call the Raven 'King'?
The birds of the woods would call the Raven 'King' if he could sing beautifully because the Fox claims that the Raven's handsome appearance combined with a beautiful singing voice would make him superior to all other birds.
Why does the Fox address the Raven as 'Sir'?
The Fox addresses the Raven as 'Sir' to show false respect and flatter him. By using this respectful title, the Fox makes the Raven feel important and honored, which makes the Raven more likely to believe the Fox's compliments and fall for his trick.
Explanation
((i)) The Fox is using flattery when he says 'Such feathers!' He calls the Raven 'handsome' and praises his feathers to make him feel special. The word 'Such' with an admiring tone indicates the feathers are being described as attractive and beautiful. ((ii)) The Fox uses conditional flattery here. He says 'If you would only sing, The birds of these woods would call you King.' This is a manipulative statement designed to make the Raven want to sing, which would cause him to open his beak and drop the food. ((iii)) The use of 'Sir' is a clever trick by the Fox. It is a form of flattery that appeals to the Raven's pride. The Fox wants to make the Raven feel respected and important so that he will be more susceptible to the flattery that follows. This is part of the Fox's cunning plan to get the food.