Question

"He was too much of a gambler not to accept Fate. With him life was at best an uncertain game, and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer."
"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Hart, 1869

Harte uses allusion in this excerpt to
A. illustrate Mr. Oakhurst's insecurities about life.
B. signify that Mr. Oakhurst was able to control his future.
C. explain the importance of gambling in Mr. Oakhurst's life.
D. indicate that Mr. Oakhurst knew that destiny was in charge.

Answer 1

The answer should be c it may be wrong

Answer 2

Answer:

D. indicate that Mr. Oakhurst knew that destiny was in charge.

Explanation:

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte tells the story of how four people were kicked out of their own settlement and made to survive in whatever way they can. They are not allowed to come back to the village. One of the four was a man named John Oakhurst who was a successful gambler.

Based on the excerpt provided above, Harte alludes to the fact that Mr. Oakhurst "was too much of a gambler to not accept fate". Being a gambler, he knows how the game is, that it favors the dealer. The end of the story reveals that Mr. Oakhurst had killed himself leaving a note on a playing card, the deuce of clubs. It bore the words "Beneath this tree lies the body of John Oakhurst, who struck a streak of bad luck on the 23rd of November, 1850, and handed in his checks on the 7th December, 1850". So, he knew that destiny was in charge of his life.