Question

“You, the Five Nations Confederate Lords, be firm so that if a tree falls on your joined arms it shall not separate or weaken your hold.”
How does the figurative language in this sentence support the purpose of the passage?
It reinforces the Lords’ importance as leaders of the community.
It suggests that the Lords must be ready and able to withstand great physical stress.
It indicates that the Lords’ commitment to the Five Nations must be unbreakable.
It helps to explain the meaning of lordship in the Iroquois world.

Answer 1

The figurative language in the sentence support the purpose of the passage "The figurative language in the sentence support the purpose of the passage by indicating that the Lord's commitment to the Five Nation must be unbreakable."  by indicating that the Lord's commitment to the Five Nation must be unbreakable. So the third statement is the correct answer.

Answer 2

It indicates that the Lords’ commitment to the Five Nations must be unbreakable.

There are a number of documents which tells about the founding of Iroquois. Arthur C. Parker, Archeologist of the State Museum in New York gave a new version of it in “The Constitution of the Five Nations - or - The Iroquois Book of the Great Law.”

A Confederacy of the five nations was founded by Dekanawida in which while holding the hands of the other four members, he spoke these lines. He focuses on this issue that in any case, they would not leave the hands as this may hurt and make a loss to everyone. He adds that if hands are joined, the falling tree (problems) would make no effect on them. Only they have to be firm and keep patience and remain themselves in a group.