Read this excerpt from chapter 2 of the scarlet letter. meagre, indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from such bystanders at the scaffold. on the other hand, a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule, might then be invested with almost as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself. which best describes the purpose of the words “meagre,” “scaffold,” “stern,” and “punishment of death”? they impart a judgmental, reproachful mood. they impart a gloomy and woeful mood. they establish the municipal setting of the town square. they establish the boisterous setting at the scaffold.

One element of lyric poetry is personal reflection. which lines in this poem most clearly illustrate that element? i wandered lonely as a cloudby william wordsworthi wandered lonely as a cloudthat floats on high o'er vales and hills,when all at once i saw a crowd,a host, of golden daffodils; beside the lake, beneath the trees,fluttering and dancing in the breeze.continuous as the stars that shineand twinkle on the milky way.they stretched in never-ending linealong the margin of a bay: ten thousand saw i at a glance,tossing their heads in sprightly dance.the waves beside them danced; but theyout-did the sparkling waves in glee: a poet could not but be gay.in such a jocund company: i gazed and gazed—but little thoughtwhat wealth the show to me had brought: for oft, when on my couch i liein vacant or in pensive mood,they flash upon that inward eyewhich is the bliss of solitude; and then my heart with pleasure fills,and dances with the daffodils.