Final answer:
The 'wake-up call' serves as both a literal signal to awaken from sleep and a metaphorical alert to important issues or decisions in life. It signifies moments of realization leading to change, which can be seen in various literary and real-life contexts. It also relates to innate or learned behaviors prompting action or awareness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term 'wake-up call' often refers to something that alerts someone to an issue or trouble that necessitates immediate attention. In a more literal sense, it can signify an alarm or signal to awaken from sleep, as highlighted by the early morning alarum bell in the provided texts, metaphorically and literally stirring individuals to action. Metaphorically speaking, it symbolizes a moment of realization or an event that prompts a person to change their perspective or behavior.
This concept is evident in various contexts such as literature, where characters might experience a 'wake-up call' through events that drastically alter their understanding or course of action. Similarly, in our everyday lives, a 'wake-up call' might come from life-changing personal experiences or societal events that challenge our beliefs and change our actions.
From a behavioral standpoint, as mentioned in one of the references, an alarm call can be an innate behavior, distinct from a contact call which is a learned behavior. Applying this to the usage of 'wake-up call', it can be seen as either an innate response to immediate stimuli or a result of cumulative experiences leading to a conscious change, much like the living word that awakened Helen Keller's soul.