Read these lines from the poem. They refer to the biblical story of Samson.

There is a poor, blind Samson in this land,

Shorn of his strength and bound in bonds of steel,

Who may, in some grim revel, raise his hand,

And shake the pillars of this Commonweal,

Till the vast Temple of our liberties

A shapeless mass of wreck and rubbish lies.

In the Bible, Samson is dedicated to God, and as a sign of his dedication, his hair is never cut. God gives Samson immense physical strength. But Samson is tricked into revealing his secret, and evil people shave his head, which makes him lose his strength. The evil people capture him, blind him, and make him a slave. Samson asks God to give him strength once more so he can seek revenge on the evil people, and God does. Samson destroys their temple, killing many of them, and killing himself in the process.

Which tone is created by the allusion to the temple?


a threatening tone

a satisfied tone

a relieved tone

a questioning tone