Question

What is the purpose of the figurative language "By the time the fire engine got there, the gambling boat was a floating torch."

Answer 1

This is more of a metaphor and imagery combined. Reason being a metaphor since the gambling boat isn’t actually a floating torch. Imagery because it is telling you that it looked like a floating torch. Putting two and two together it means the gambling boat was already on fire.

Answer 2

Th purpose is to tell you that the boat is completely on fire.

Step-by-step explanation: