Question

The sea is calm tonight.

The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
5 Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!
Only, from the long line of spray
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
10 Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,
At their return, up the high strand,
Begin, and cease, and then again begin,
With tremulous cadence slow, and bring
The eternal note of sadness in.
1
Select the correct answer.
In the passage, what is the figurative meaning of the phrase “the waves”?

A.
circumstances
B.
destiny
C.
finances
D.
emotions

Answer 1

D. Emotions

Step-by-step explanation:

In the given passage, the figurative meaning of the phrase "the waves" is:

D. Emotions

The waves in this context symbolize emotions. The description of the waves drawing back, flinging, beginning, ceasing, and starting again with a slow and tremulous cadence suggests the fluctuation and intensity of human emotions. The mention of the waves bringing "the eternal note of sadness in" further emphasizes the emotional depth and melancholic tone of the scene.