In the poem "When Malindy Sings," Paul Laurence Dunbar uses irony and caricature to "signify" on white assumptions about African Americans. What does Henry Louis Gate's term "signify" mean ?
Correct answer: A. Giving words double meaning that appear differently to white and black readers.
- A. Giving words double meaning that appear differently to white and black readers.
- B. Fixing words with very specific meanings.
- C. Making sure that what is written makes sense.
- D. Lying to mislead the reader.
Explanation
In Gates's account, signify is an indirect, often ironic form of verbal play in which words carry layered meanings for different audiences. It is more than simply lying or giving words one fixed meaning.
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