“Mr. Cornelius Johnson, Office-Seeker” is a 1900 short story by Paul Laurence Dunbar. In the story, the narrator describes Mr. Cornelius Johnson’s appearance as conveying his exaggerated sense of his importance:______
Which quotation from “Mr. Cornelius Johnson, Office-Seeker” most effectively illustrates the claim?
Explanation
Context: In "Mr. Cornelius Johnson, Office-Seeker," the narrator describes Johnson's appearance as conveying his exaggerated sense of his own importance. The question asks which quote shows this self-importance expressed through physical appearance/bearing.
Answer: A) "He carried himself always as if he were passing under his own triumphal arch."
Why? This directly describes Johnson's physical bearing (how he carries himself) as though perpetually celebrating his own imagined greatness (a triumphal arch is built to honor great achievements). The image of his own triumphal arch perfectly captures exaggerated self-importance expressed through appearance.
Traps:
- B) "The grey Prince Albert was scrupulously buttoned about his form, and a shining silk hat..." → describes his well-dressed appearance but doesn't convey exaggerated self-importance
- C) "It was a beautiful day in balmy May and the sun shone pleasantly on Mr. Cornelius Johnson" → sets the scene, says nothing about Johnson's self-importance
- D) "Mr. Cornelius Johnson always spoke in a large and important tone" → about his manner of speaking, not specifically about his physical appearance conveying self-importance