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Stenka25 Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
What does 'his' refer to?
What does 'his' refer to?
The passage below comes from 'On the shortness of life' by Seneca.
https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=6Z_1Glq-VQ0C&pg=PT8&lpg=PT8&dq=%22and+his+son+was+still+trying+to+revive+his+defeated+forces+in+Spain%22&source=bl&ots=Xib-ncB_Rc&sig=97n53joU4uAxMxOpjEqtOFz7V2Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibzMe7hcLKAhWDG5QKHc8NDsMQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=%22and%20his%20son%20was%20still%20trying%20to%20revive%20his%20defeated%20forces%20in%20Spain%22&f=false
When Marcus Cicero was cast among men like Catiline and Clodius and Pompey and Crassus – some of them undisguised enemies and some doubtful friends – when he was tossed about in the storm that struck the state, he tried to hold it steady as it went to its doom; but at last he was swept away. He had neither peace in prosperity nor patience in adversity, and how often does he curse that very consulship, which he had praised without ceasing though not without good reason! What woeful words he uses in a letter to Atticus when the elder Pompey had been conquered, and his son was still trying to revive his defeated forces in Spain!
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'his'.
What does the underlined 'his' refer to?
It seems to represent 'Pompey' in the sense of context, but I cannot rule out the possibility of 'HIS' referring to 'his son'.
Can you put my confusion in order?
Regards.
The passage below comes from 'On the shortness of life' by Seneca.
https://books.google.co.kr/books?id=6Z_1Glq-VQ0C&pg=PT8&lpg=PT8&dq=%22and+his+son+was+still+trying+to+revive+his+defeated+forces+in+Spain%22&source=bl&ots=Xib-ncB_Rc&sig=97n53joU4uAxMxOpjEqtOFz7V2Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwibzMe7hcLKAhWDG5QKHc8NDsMQ6AEIGjAA#v=onepage&q=%22and%20his%20son%20was%20still%20trying%20to%20revive%20his%20defeated%20forces%20in%20Spain%22&f=false
When Marcus Cicero was cast among men like Catiline and Clodius and Pompey and Crassus – some of them undisguised enemies and some doubtful friends – when he was tossed about in the storm that struck the state, he tried to hold it steady as it went to its doom; but at last he was swept away. He had neither peace in prosperity nor patience in adversity, and how often does he curse that very consulship, which he had praised without ceasing though not without good reason! What woeful words he uses in a letter to Atticus when the elder Pompey had been conquered, and his son was still trying to revive his defeated forces in Spain!
I'd like to ask a question regarding the underlined 'his'.
What does the underlined 'his' refer to?
It seems to represent 'Pompey' in the sense of context, but I cannot rule out the possibility of 'HIS' referring to 'his son'.
Can you put my confusion in order?
Regards.
Top answer
Stenka25 What does the underlined 'his' refer to? Presumably to Pompey's son, but you had better check a history website; it is not a grammar problem; the pronoun is ambiguous.
- Stenka25 What does the underlined 'his' refer to?
- Presumably to Pompey's son, but you had better check a history website; it is not a grammar problem; the pronoun is ambiguous.
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2 Answers
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Stenka25What does the underlined 'his' refer to?Presumably to Pompey's son, but you had better check a history website; it is not a grammar problem; the pronoun is ambiguous.
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