Question

Which excerpt best illustrates the author's use of the metaphor most central to the author's ideas about the human condition? A. "The worst that could be said of him was that he did not represent his class." B. "… small green flames, red flames, white flames, pursuing, overtaking …" C. "He was the only man of us who still 'followed the sea.'" D. "They were men enough to face the darkness."

Answer 1

"The worst that could be said of him was that he did not represent his class.

Answer 2

Answer:

D. "They were men enough to face the darkness."

Explanation:

In this sentence, the author employs a metaphor. A metaphor refers to a comparison between two unlike things with the purpose of clarifying an idea or making it more powerful. In this example, the author wants to make a commentary on the human condition. The way he conveys this is by using the idea of "darkness" as a metaphor for the least desirable parts of humanity.