High School

What might "it" refer to in the following excerpt from "Freeway 280"? Why might "it" be important to the speaker?

"Las casitas near the gray cannery, nestled amid wild abrazos of climbing roses and man-high red geraniums are gone now. The freeway conceals it all beneath a raised scar."

Answer :

Final answer:

The pronoun "it" in the poem refers to the lost environment and memories that the freeway has obscured. This loss signifies themes of change and nostalgia, emphasizing how progress often comes at the cost of beauty and connection to the past. The metaphor of the freeway as a "raised scar" illustrates the painful impact of urban development on the natural world.


Explanation:

Understanding the Excerpt from "Freeway 280"


In the excerpt from Freeway 280, the pronoun "it" refers to the treasured memories and the physical landscape that once existed before the construction of the freeway. The line "the freeway conceals it all beneath a raised scar" suggests that the freeway has not only disrupted the natural beauty surrounding the casitas and gardens but has also obscured the speaker's connection to that lost environment.


This loss is important to the speaker as it highlights themes of change and nostalgia. The images of climbing roses and red geraniums create a vibrant picture of what has been sacrificed, representing both a physical place and emotional ties. The phrase "beneath a raised scar" metaphorically implies that the freeway is a wound that has marred the landscape, suggesting a sense of grief over what has been irreversible lost.


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