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    "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith
    Question

    "The Deserted Village" by Oliver Goldsmith

    A.

    Critiques the rural institutions

    B.

    Voices revolt of the individual man against institutions

    C.

    Reflects upon different views on the human soul

    D.

    Advocates urbanism over rural backwardness

    Correct option is B

    Oliver Goldsmith's poem "The Deserted Village" can be seen as a voice of revolt of the individual man against institutions. The poem is a pastoral elegy that laments the loss of a traditional English village to enclosure and industrialization. The speaker of the poem is a returning native who is shocked and saddened by the changes that have taken place in his village. The poem can be read as a critique of the social and economic forces that were transforming England in the 18th century. Goldsmith was particularly concerned about the impact of enclosure on the rural poor. Enclosure was the process of fencing off common land and converting it to private property. This process led to the displacement of many small farmers and laborers, who were forced to move to the cities in search of work.
    The speaker of the poem is nostalgic for the old village, which he remembers as a place of harmony and community. He contrasts the old village with the new village, which he describes as a place of poverty and despair. The speaker's nostalgia for the old village can be seen as a form of revolt against the institutions that have led to its destruction. The poem also contains a number of other passages that can be interpreted as a revolt of the individual man against institutions. For example, the speaker criticizes the greed of the landlords who have enclosed the common land and the heartlessness of the wealthy who have abandoned the village. The speaker also praises the simple virtues of the country people, who he sees as being more genuine and moral than the city dwellers. Overall, "The Deserted Village" can be seen as a powerful voice of revolt against the social and economic forces that were transforming England in the 18th century. The poem is a lament for the loss of a traditional way of life and a critique of the institutions that have led to its destruction.

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