This question is based on General Literary Appreciation. 'Women as a clam, on the sea's crescent I saw your…

Analyze the question

The lines come from Wole Soyinka's poem "Night". The question asks what the image of a "jealous eye" that "quenches the sea's fluorescence" suggests about women (the persona describes a woman's eye as a clam's).

Explain the concept

In literary appreciation, you find the meaning of an image by looking at the key words and what they suggest about character. Here the key word is "jealous". Jealousy means resenting what others have and wanting it for oneself. The word that matches it best is covetous, which means eager to possess what belongs to someone else.

Step-by-step solution

1. "Women as a clam": the clam image suggests something closed, hidden and watchful.
2. "I saw your jealous eye": the eye is directly described as jealous.
3. "quench the sea's fluorescence": the eye puts out the sea's brightness and glow. A jealous, grasping eye wants to take over or extinguish what shines.
4. Now test the options: • A. covetous: matches "jealous" directly. • B. dogmatic: this means stubbornly opinionated, and nothing in the lines suggests it. • C. seers: this would mean prophets who see the future. The "eye" is not described as seeing visions, but as jealous. • D. magicians: nothing in the lines suggests magic or tricks.

Answer

The line describes women as having a jealous, possessive eye, so the best option is A. covetous.

Exam tip

In "what does the line suggest" questions, look for the most descriptive word in the passage (here, "jealous") and choose the option that is its closest synonym. Examiners often put the clue straight in the text.