Question

Read the excerpt from Life on the Mississippi. I tremblingly considered a moment, and then the devil of temptation provoked me to say:— ‘Well—to—to—be entertaining, I thought.’ This was a red rag to the bull. He raged and stormed so (he was crossing the river at the time) that I judge it made him blind, because he ran over the steering-oar of a trading-scow. What does the expression “a red rag to the bull” suggest? Twain believes Bixby looks like an animal. Twain feels he has to take care of Bixby. Twain feels he is able to control Bixby’s actions. Twain believes his words have incited Bixby.

Answer 1

Hello!,
What does the expression "a red rag to the bull" suggest?
the correct answer is: "Twain believes his words have incited Bixby."
I hope this helps you out! :)

Answer 2

Answer: Twain believes his words have incited Bixby.

The most likely meaning of the phrase "this was a red rag to the bull" is that Twain believes that his words have incited Bixby. The phrase is a reference to the Spanish tradition of bullfighting. In bullfighting, the bullfighter carries a red cloth that he waves in front of the bull. The cloth is meant to incite the animal to attack. Similarly, Twain believed his words have incited Bixby.