Read this excerpt from Chapter 1 of The Scarlet Letter:

"Finding it so directly on the threshold of our narrative, which is now about to issue from that inauspicious portal, we could hardly do otherwise than pluck one of its flowers and present it to the reader."

What is the meaning of the word "inauspicious"?

A. Unremarkable, forgettable
B. Unintelligent, not educated
C. Unimpressive, poorly built
D. Unfavorable, boding ill

The word "inauspicious" means unfavorable or boding ill. In the context of the excerpt, it suggests a negative start to the narrative. This foreshadows troubling events to come in the story.

Explanation:

Understanding the Word "Inauspicious"

The word inauspicious is derived from the Latin word that means unfavorable or unpromising. In the context of the excerpt from The Scarlet Letter, it suggests that there are negative implications associated with the situation described. This term reflects a sense of foreboding or ill fortune related to the beginning of the narrative.

Here are some interpretations to consider:

Unfavorable, suggesting bad luck or an ominous start.
Not a positive or hopeful beginning to the story.
Implying that the events might not lead to a happy outcome.

Thus, when the narrative is described as being about to issue from an inauspicious portal, it hints at a troubling or bleak start, resonating with the themes of guilt and suffering prominent in Nathaniel Hawthorne's work.

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