I need an answer ASAP

What does sterling brown mean when he mentions the chain gang a.) brown is referring to people in general, who are chained in their minds. b.) brown is referring to slaves in chains c.) brown is referring to gangs in the ghetto chained to their crimes and poverty d.) brown is referring to men perhaps prisoners singing/chanting while working.

Which two passages in this excerpt from the death of ivan illych does leo tolstoy use to suggest that ivan ilych feels like his life is slipping away from him? "what's the use? it makes no difference," he said to himself, staring with wide-open eyes into the darkness. "death. yes, death. and none of them knows or wishes to know it, and they have no pity for me. now they are playing." (he heard through the door the distant sound of a song and its accompaniment.) "it's all the same to them, but they will die too! fools! i first, and they later, but it will be the same for them. and now they are merry . . the beasts! " anger choked him and he was agonizingly, unbearably miserable. "it is impossible that all men have been doomed to suffer this awful horror! " he raised himself. "something must be wrong. i must calm myself—must think it all over from the beginning." and he again began thinking. "yes, the beginning of my illness: i knocked my side, but i was still quite well that day and the next. it hurt a little, then rather more. i saw the doctors, then followed despondency and anguish, more doctors, and i drew nearer to the abyss. my strength grew less and i kept coming nearer and nearer, and now i have wasted away and there is no light in my eyes.

In comparing "minerva and arachne" and "niobe," can you establish a common theme running throughout both texts? how do you think this theme might change if the stories were written in first-person point of view? write a journal entry explaining the theme of both "minerva and arachne" and "nirobe." then, consider how the theme might change if the tales were written using a first-person point of view. use examples and evidence from both texts to support your analysis.