Question

What are the feelings associated with the use of the simile in the first sentence of section 6?

The foamy wavelets curled up to her white feet, and coiled like serpents about her ankles.

A. a sense of beauty and comfort

B. a sense of temptation and danger

C. a sense of lost time and fatigue

D. a sense of melancholy and sentimentality

Answer 1

B. a sense of temptation and danger

The “feelings” one feels when reading literature or poetry is determined by the diction of the author. Mood/feelings can be influenced by use of figurative language. In this particular instance, the figurative language the author uses is simile—"coiled like serpents." Serpents (because of biblical connotations) will frequently reference temptation. And, a coiled serpent is a serpent that is ready/about to strike. Thus, one should be cautious of a coiled serpent. That said, the use simile in the first sentence provides a feeling of temptation as well as danger.

Answer 2

B. a sense of temptation and danger

Step-by-step explanation:

Temptation is achieved by saying that the waves "curled up" to the character's feet. This sounds as if the character got tempted by the sea; the " foamy" little waves sounds as if they were inviting her to walk into the sea. Then, the danger of the situation is expressed through the picture of a serpent coiling around the charater's very same feet. The sea sounds tricky : it invites the character to walk in but if she did, she would never be able to walk out.