Which explanation about “I Explain a Few Things” best develops the speaker’s viewpoint that adversity only makes his compatriots stronger? By describing their opponents as “Jackals that the jackal would spurn,” the speaker stresses that an enemy this brutal is difficult to stand against.

The image of friars blessing the bombs that kill the children provides an example of why those under attack are anxious to fight back.

The image of fellow citizens rising up and drowning the enemy in a wave of “pride and knives” demonstrates that they will remain defiant.

By portraying the fires, gunpowder, and blood, the speaker shows that the horror of this war will only end when their opponents give up.

here is a passage to find info from...

excerpt from “I Explain a Few Things” by Pablo Neruda

And one morning all was aflame
and one morning the fires
came out of the earth
devouring people,
and from then on fire,
gunpowder from then on,
and from then on blood.

Bandits with airplanes and with Moors,
bandits with rings and duchesses,
bandits with black-robed friars blessing
came through the air to kill children,
and through the streets the blood of children
ran simply, like children’s blood.

Jackals that the jackal would spurn,
stones that the dry thistle would bite spitting,
vipers that vipers would abhor!

Facing you I have seen the blood
of Spain rise up
to drown you in a single wave
of pride and knives!