Final answer:
The author indicates that Samhain and modern Halloween celebrations are alike by emphasizing the use of costumes and masks, which serve a functional role in both historical and contemporary contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author communicates that Samhain celebrations were similar to Halloween celebrations today primarily through Option 2: By emphasizing the presence of costumes and masks. Just as costumes today are crucial for conveying the festive spirit of Halloween, they were also significant in Samhain celebrations. Much like in theatre, where costumes can reveal critical details about time and place, the use of costumes and masks during Samhain similarly gave insight into the cultural and societal context of the time.
Understanding the functional role costumes play in both theatrical productions and traditional celebrations allows us to see the continuity between Samhain and modern Halloween. In ancient times, these costumes may have been used to ward off evil spirits or represent figures from folklore, very much like today's use of costumes to adopt various personas for the holiday. Thus, rather than discussing technological advancements or listing historical differences, focusing on the customs, specifically the use of costumes, efficiently communicates the connections between the two.