Take a close look at lines from "The Black Snake."

Black Snake! Black Snake!

Looped in a tree,

Limp as a licorice whip

Flung free.

What affect does the punctuation have on the meaning of these lines?

A. The punctuation marks, including the exclamation marks, create excitement. This excitement and energy describe how the author feels about the snake.

B. The punctuation doesn't develop the meaning.

C. The punctuation marks slow the reader down and force us to pause and look. The author tells us where the snake is so that we can avoid it.

D. The punctuation creates nervous pauses. This emphasizes the author's fear of the snake.

Answer:A. The punctuation marks, including the exclamation marks, create excitement. This excitement and energy describe how the author feels about the snake.

Explanation:

In this excerpt from Patricia Hubbel's poem, the use of exclamation marks indicates that the speaker is excited. Exclamation marks are used to indicate strong feelings and give warnings. The speaker's reaction is natural in such circumstances. Each one of us would probably reacted in the same way upon seeing a snake in our surrounding. The speaker is at the same time surprised and excited, which is conveyed through the repetition of the phrase "black snake!"