ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos

AP English Literature and Composition 1.3 Passage Drill 7 216 Views

Share It!

Description:

AP English Literature and Composition 1.3 Passage Drill 7. What is the meaning of the phrase "lady of fortune" as it is used in line 4?

Language:

English Language

Subjects:

Tags:

Common Core Standards:

Transcript

00:03
You can't handle the Shmoop!
00:08
Pause and review, you know the drill.
00:51
What is the meaning of the phrase "lady of fortune" as it is used in line 5?
00:56
And here are the potential answers:
01:02
Ah, "lady of fortune" that's the game show where you spin the lady for the chance to

01:06
win cash and fabulous prizes...
01:09
Correction: that one was canceled. Too many complaints.
01:13
Mainly from the lady that people were spinning. What does "lady of fortune" mean here? Let's
01:18
examine line 5 to find out, but just so we have some context, let's actually re-read
01:23
the entire first paragraph as well:
01:29
There once lived, in a sequestered part of the county of Devonshire, one Mr. Godfrey
01:33
Nickleby: a worthy gentleman, who, taking it into his head rather late in life that
01:38
he must get married, and not being young enough or rich enough to aspire to the hand of a
01:43
lady of fortune, had wedded an old flame out of mere attachment, who in her turn had taken
01:50
him for the same reason. Thus two people who cannot afford to play cards for money, sometimes
01:55
sit down to a quiet game for love.
01:58
The part that refers to a "lady of fortune" is implying that Nickleby would have loved
02:02
to marry a lady of fortune...
02:04
...but he started a little late in the game, and didn't have much moolah. So, he was old
02:09
and broke. Not really how you want to start your Match.com profile.
02:13
So, which of our answer choices sounds like the type of person who wouldn't be interested
02:19
in an old, broke guy?
02:21
A is out because Lady Luck isn't even a real lady...
02:25
C, D and E are out, because as much as prostitutes, pirates and gamblers all like money...
02:30
...they're not necessarily looking to marry someone with a lot of booty.
02:34
A wealthy lady, on the other hand, is probably accustomed to a certain lifestyle she wouldn't
02:38
want to relinquish...
02:39
...so she's probably on the lookout for an equally wealthy gentleman.
02:43
The correct answer is B.
02:45
Sorry, Nickleby. No champagne wishes or caviar dreams for you, sir.
03:03
for you, sir.
Full Transcript