Question

I do not ever remember to have trembled at a tale of superstition, or to have feared the apparition of a spirit. Darkness had no effect upon my fancy; and a churchyard was to me merely the receptacle of bodies deprived of life, which, from being the seat of beauty and strength, had become food for the worm.

The astonishment which I had at first experienced on this discovery soon gave place to delight and rapture. After so much time spent in painful labour, to arrive at once at the summit of my desires, was the most gratifying consummation of my tolls. But this discovery was so great and overwhelming, that all the steps by which I had been progressively led to it were obliterated, and I beheld only the result.

receptacle:
consummation:
obliterated:

Answer 1

The words in the text represent different literary techniques that the author is using:

• Receptacle: A conceit, or comparison between the churchyard and a receptacle of bodies being used.

• Consummation: A metaphor is used indicating that the author's tolls will be paid or "consumed" to his gratification.

• Obliterated: An allusion is being made to all of the "steps" or progress he has achieved until this point.