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 term "it" in the excerpt likely refers to the lost landscape and homes that were once vibrant features of the area. Its importance to the speaker lies in the emotional connection to what has been erased by urban development, encapsulating themes of loss and identity. The imagery highlights the tension between progress and the preservation of cultural heritage.


Explanation:

Understanding the Excerpt from 'Freeway 280'


In the excerpt from Freeway 280, the word "it" is likely referring to the lost landscape or the homes that once existed in the area described. The lines reflect on the transformation of the environment due to urban development, suggesting that something beautiful and vibrant, embodied by the "casitas" and the flowers, has been replaced by the freeway—a symbol of progress that often comes at the cost of natural beauty and community.


This loss is significant to the speaker as it evokes a sense of nostalgia and sorrow for what has been erased in the name of development. The phrase "raised scar" vividly illustrates how the freeway not only blocks the view but also causes emotional pain associated with loss and change. The destruction of this landscape represents broader themes of identity, belonging, and the impacts of modernization on personal and cultural histories.


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