Excerpt from Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that’s the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silence when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing. Nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him if he gives too much.

How does the language in this excerpt affect the reader’s understanding of the novel’s setting?

The description captures the sense that South Africa has turned a corner and is headed in a better direction, while also suggesting that some small problems still remain to be solved.

The description captures the great beauty of South Africa, while also suggesting the suffering and desperation that characterizes the country at the time this novel is set.

The description captures the unique love for their children that the South African people feel, while also suggesting that those children will not love their country as their parents do.

The description captures the essential happiness of most South African people, while also suggesting that some small portion of the population is gripped by fear.