Section: Literature and Composition

16) View Additional Information

At the end of paragraph 1, the phrase, "The window might as well have been painted grey," implies which of the following is true about Inman's state of mind?

1. That he feels as though death would be preferable to being laid up in a hospital bed.
2. That he is bitter towards the North for his injury.
3. That he feels vengeful and intends to get payback for what was done to him.
4. That without beauty in the world, one might as well not see at all.
5. That he misses his high school sweetheart.

Answer 1 is close to the correct answer in that it invokes the misery of Inman's situation. Answers 2 and 3 are similar to one another and both imply that Inman has revenge in mind -- which isn't true of the excerpt or the story as a whole. Answer 5 cannot be implied from this passage, leaving Answer 4 as the best option.