Question

Which quotation from the poem "Ellis Island" supports the theme "A culture of conquering others is unhealthy”?

Answer 1

Answer: B. After leaving the sickness, / the old Empires of Europe

Explanation:

The Old Empires of Europe being the British, the French, the Spanish, The Portuguese, The Dutch, and The Germans amongst others, got to the level they were at by conquering new lands from North America to Australia. Indeed at it's height, the British Empire controlled 24% of Earth as we know it now.

Joseph Bruchac (the Poet), in the poem, likens these Empires to being sick. To having become inherently unhealthy because all they thought about was conquest essentially drawing a comparison between conquest and sickness to say that conquering others can make one sick and unhealthy just as it did these Old Empires of Europe.