Final answer:
Salman Rushdie likens the divide between English literature and Commonwealth literature to fire and ice, emphasizing their distinct, yet connected nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflecting on the supposed divide between English literature and Commonwealth literature, notable author Salman Rushdie offers analogies to express the difference and relationship between the two.
One of the examples he gives to illustrate things that should be kept apart, much like the two forms of literature, is that they are as inherently separate as fire and ice.
This metaphor emphasizes the distinctness yet tangential nature of these literary forms, much like fire and ice existing with unique properties but in the same physical realm.
Rushdie gives the example of water and oil to illustrate the supposed divide between English literature and Commonwealth literature. He likens the two to water and oil, suggesting that they are inherently different and should be kept apart.
This analogy highlights the perception that English literature and Commonwealth literature have distinct characteristics and themes that set them apart, just like water and oil do not mix.