WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Read the extract below and answer the question:
So should the murdered look, and so should I,
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty;
Yes you the murdered look so bright in clear
As yonder, Venus in her, glimmering sphere
The speaker’s experience is that
- the poor are eloquent
-
even the eloquent can falter in their speech
- the poor are inhibited
- even the poor can be tongue-tied
The correct answer is: B
Explanation
In the speech, Theseus describes how even the most learned and eloquent individuals ("great clerks") struggle with nervousness when addressing him. He notes that they often shiver, look pale, pause awkwardly mid-sentence and even fail to complete their speeches due to fear or pressure. This suggests that even those who are skilled in speech can falter in certain situations, reinforcing the idea that confidence and ease in public speaking are not guaranteed, even for the well-educated.