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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing
A long sentence from a book
This sentence below is from the preface of Charles Dickens' book Bleak House.
There had been, he admitted, in its(The Court of Chancery) rate of progress, but this was exaggerated, and had been entirely owing to the 'parsimony of the public'; which guilty public, it appeared, had been bent in the most determined manner on by no means enlarging the number of Chancery Judges appointed -- I believe by Richard the Second, but any other king will do as well.
public : meaning people?
1) what is which referring to? Or what is its function?
2) what is meant with the phrase 'parsimony of the public'? People are too hesitant to spent money?
3) bent on meaning being investigated?
4) why is the king mentioned? Methinks(haha) it has nothing to do with anything in the sentence.
I know, too many questions for only one sentence, sorry.
There had been, he admitted, in its(The Court of Chancery) rate of progress, but this was exaggerated, and had been entirely owing to the 'parsimony of the public'; which guilty public, it appeared, had been bent in the most determined manner on by no means enlarging the number of Chancery Judges appointed -- I believe by Richard the Second, but any other king will do as well.
public : meaning people?
1) what is which referring to? Or what is its function?
2) what is meant with the phrase 'parsimony of the public'? People are too hesitant to spent money?
3) bent on meaning being investigated?
4) why is the king mentioned? Methinks(haha) it has nothing to do with anything in the sentence.
I know, too many questions for only one sentence, sorry.
Top answer
1) "Which" refers to the guilty public. " 2) You're correct. 3) No.
- 1) "Which" refers to the guilty public.
- " 2) You're correct.
- 3) No.
- It is their purpose (they are determined - bent ) to NOT enlarge the number of judges.
- (Sorry about the split infinitive, CJ) 4) The judges are appointed by the king.
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2 Answers
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1) "Which" refers to the guilty public. It serves as subject of the relative clause, "which had (not) been bent on enlarging the number etc."
2) You're correct.
3) No. It is their purpose (they are determined - bent) to NOT enlarge the number of judges. (Sorry about the split infinitive, CJ)
4) The judges are appointed by the king. (Which king?)
2) You're correct.
3) No. It is their purpose (they are determined - bent) to NOT enlarge the number of judges. (Sorry about the split infinitive, CJ)
4) The judges are appointed by the king. (Which king?)
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Oh I get it now, bent is used as a noun (or adjective?) there.
Thank you for replying.
Thank you for replying.
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