Question

why is it aurprising that the subject has gumption? what is being said prior to this about the subject​

Answer 1

Explanation:

Stanza 4

Alone with his shadow he'd drowse in the meadow,

Lazily swinging his tail,

At break of day he used to bray,-

Not much too hearty and hale;

But a wonderful gumption was under his skin,

And a clean calm light in his eye,

And once in a while; he'd smile:-

Would Nicholas Nye.

Word-meanings: drowse: to feel sleepy, doze 2. Swinging : moving to and fro 3. Bray: sound created by a donkey 4. hearty and hale: hale and hearty: used to show that one is quite healthy 5. Gumption: here it means courage and boldness 6. Calm: peaceful/peace 7. Once in a while: sometimes, not very often

Explanation: The donkey would stand alone in the meadow and drowse swinging his tail here and there lazily. No other donkey is there to accompany him except his own shadow. The lines lay stress on his loneliness. At the sunrise (break of the day), as it is natural for all donkeys to bray, but his bray was not full of energy and liveliness. It showed that the donkey was not hale and hearty i.e. healthy. In spite of all miseries and poor health, the donkey had one thing special in him. It was his boldness to make a smile showing a curious (keen) and peaceful light in his eyes.