Answer:
D. The sense of sound to emphasize the intense volume of the storm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short story "The Scarlet Ibis" by James Hurst revolves around the story of the narrator and his memories about his younger, physically challenged brother. The story deals with themes of regret, brotherhood, acceptance vs. expectation, etc.
In the given passage from the text, the narrator reveals the particular scene where he had gone to the creek with his younger brother, William "Doodle" Armstrong. The narrator uses imagery to describe the scene, "the lightning was near . . . rain was coming, roaring through the pines, and then, like a bursting Roman candle, a gum tree ahead of us was shattered by a bolt of lightning." The phrase "the deafening peal of thunder" further adds to the imagery of the storm.
Thus, the correct answer is option D.