Two Ways of Seeing a River
Read Mark Twain's "Two Ways of Seeing a River." What claim does Twain make in this persuasive essay?
by Mark Twain
A. Understanding the river currents can help you to better appreciate nature.
OB. Knowledge and experience helps you understand the value of nature.
C. Knowledge and experience changes your perspective toward life.
D. Appreciating natural beauty enhances your perspective toward life.
E. Understanding that a river is not all about romance and beauty makes you wise.
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All the grace, the beauty, the poetry, had gone out of the
majestic river! I still kept in mind a certain wonderful sunset
which I witnessed when steamboating was new to me. A broad
expanse of the river was turned to blood; in the middje
distance the red hue brightened into gold, through wñich a
solitary log came floating, black and conspicuous; in one place a
long, slanting mark lay sparkling upon the water; in another the
surface was broken by boiling tumbling rings that were as
many-tinted as an opal; where the ruddy flush was falntest was
a smooth spot that was covered with graceful circles and
radiating lines, ever so delicately traced; the shore on our left
was densely wooded, and the somber shadow that fell from
this forest was broken in one place by a long, ruffled trail that
shone like silver, and high above the forest wall a clean-
stemmed dead tree waved a single leafy bough that glowed like
a flame in the unobstructed splendor that was flowing from the
sun. There were graceful curves, reflected Images, woody
heights, soft distances, and over the whole scene, far and near,
the dissolving lights drifted steadily, enriching it every passing
moment with new marvels of coloring.
I stood like one bewitched. I drank it in, in a speechless rapture.
The world was new to me and I had never seen anything like
this at home. But as I have said, a day came when I began to
cease from noting the glories and the charms which the moon
