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Question:

tdscott
tdscott
Student
College - Sophomore

What does the phrase, "exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle" mean?

I know what it means, but what is the meaning of the author/speaker.

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Posted by tdscott on Thursday February 15, 2007 at 8:59 AM and tagged with barbie doll, poem.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    eNotes Editor

    The difference between the literal meaning of the words and the author's meaning can be summed up in one word: irony.

    By that I mean, this girl was probably told these things. She was urged to exercise, to diet, etc.

    However, given the way this poem came to a "happy ending" that was anything but, this line should be read as anything but literal. We should hear the author whispering behind those words, "Exercise (for others, not yourself, and die anyway)" and "diet (in an unhealthy fashion, one that's forced on you)" and so on.

    Greg

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/barbie-doll/15184

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    Posted by gbeatty on Thursday February 15, 2007 at 9:52 AM