Question

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom “A man of letters.”

• A. A postman
• B. A person skilled in literature or writing
• C. A businessman dealing in books
• D. A government officer

Hint:

Be careful with idioms that seem to have obvious literal meanings.
“Letters” in classical English refers to literature and education, not mail or postal correspondence.
This knowledge helps you immediately eliminate the postman option.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question asks for the correct idiomatic definition of the phrase “A man of letters”.
This idiom relies on the historical association of the word “letters” with literature, learning, and writing.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. The word “letters” historically refers to literature, culture, and academic learning (derived from the Latin word “litterae”, which means literature or written texts).
2. Therefore, “a man of letters” (or “a person of letters”) is a traditional term for a male scholar, author, critic, or someone who is deeply versed in literature, humanities, and writing.
3. Such a person is highly educated, spends time reading and writing books, and is active in intellectual or literary circles.
4. Let us evaluate the options:
- Option (A) “A postman” is a literal interpretation of the word “letters” (since a postman delivers physical letters). This is a common distractor designed to trick students who do not know the idiomatic meaning. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
- Option (B) “A person skilled in literature or writing” is the correct figurative meaning of the idiom. It matches the historical and literary definition of a scholar or author.
- Option (C) “A businessman dealing in books” is incorrect because dealing in books commercially is related to trade (bookselling or publishing), whereas “a man of letters” refers to the intellectual pursuit of reading and writing literature.
- Option (D) “A government officer” is incorrect. A government official or bureaucrat does not fit this description, although they may handle official documents.
5. Examples of famous historical figures described as men of letters include Samuel Johnson, Voltaire, and George Orwell, who were renowned for their versatile writing, criticism, and intellectual essays.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, the correct option is (B).