Question

Read the excerpt from Fernley House by Laura E. Richards. Then, answer the question that follows. "No, miss, no; we see her go with Mrs. Peyton, and we never thought but she was all right." "She may not be there after all!" said Peggy. "Her room is on the other side, isn't it, Margaret? Come on!" They ran round to the other side of the house. This was apparently still untouched, though the flery tongues came darting over the rooftree every now and then, hissing and lapping, and the r costly stuffs and tissues that the house-owner had so dearly prized. The windows were closed and silent, but all was bright as day in the red glare of the fire. "Call, Peggy!" whispered Margaret. "I have no voice." Even as she spoke, a window in the second story was thrown up, and there stood Grace herself, very pale, but quiet as usual. "There's a young woman faint here," she said. "Too much smoke. The stairs are gone. Is there a ladder, Peggy? Ah, rope! Much better. Clever child! When I say three—throw!" Using context clues from the passage,

what is the meaning of the metaphor in the bolded excerpt?

a. Someone is speaking in a mean voice, and is hurting the feelings of those around them.
b. The sunrise made it seem like there were fire-like streaks throughout the sky.
c. The house is on fire, and the snake-like flames are dangerously close to the people inside.
d. The rope reminds Peggy of a snake's tongue as she's jumping rope outside of the house with her friends.

Answer 1

The metaphor in the bolded text refers to the flames being dangerously close to the people inside the burning house. Option c is the correct interpretation.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the provided excerpt in the bolded text, the metaphor describes the dangerous proximity of the flames to the individuals inside the house.

The author uses the metaphor of "the fiery tongues" to liken the flames and their motion to that of a snake's tongue, suggesting their predatory and imminent threat.

This scene is set against a backdrop of a house fire, with characters trying to ensure everyone is safe and accounted for. Option c is correct: The house is on fire, and the snake-like flames are dangerously close to the people inside.