Read the following lines from "Clearances".

"So while the parish priest at her beside

Went hammer and tongs at the prayers for the dying"

The poet used the phrase "went hammer and tongs" most likely to imply that

a) he is beating his bible while reading to the mother

b) he is speaking the words loudly and with great force

c) the son does not agree with the priests religious views of death

d) the mother is slipping away and takes comfort in prayers from her family

Question

Lowery

English

15 April, 23:47

Read the following lines from "Clearances".

"So while the parish priest at her beside

Went hammer and tongs at the prayers for the dying"

The poet used the phrase "went hammer and tongs" most likely to imply that

a) he is beating his bible while reading to the mother

b) he is speaking the words loudly and with great force

c) the son does not agree with the priests religious views of death

d) the mother is slipping away and takes comfort in prayers from her family

+1

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Natalee Long · Answer 1

B) He is speaking the words loudly and with great force.

To go at something "with hammer and tongs" is to do something with great vigor and a lot of purpose. So B is the correct answer based on the phrase.