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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?

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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.

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