Question

What effect does the metaphor have in this sentence? The midwestern town was an outpost of northeastern radical thought, defended by shots from the town’s newspapers and reinforced by regiments of campaigners for abolition and women’s rights.

Answer 1

The metaphor in this sentence likens the exchange of ideas (and specifically the arrival of new, radical ideas) as a battle.

The "radical thought" coming from the northeast is defended, not by believers or by thinkers, but by "shots" from newspapers and is "reinforced by regiments." This metaphor makes the arrival of new ideas a dangerous, violent -- possibly even bloody -- situation.

Answer 2

The metaphor emphasizes the aggressive nature of politics in the town.