Question

What is most likely the purpose of the counsellor’s metaphor in the following passage (paragraph 5, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People)?

Another of the king’s chief men agreed with this advice and with these wise words and then added, “This is how the present life of man on earth, King, appears to me in comparison with that time which is unknown to us. You are sitting feasting with your eldermen and thanes in winter time; the fire is burning on the hearth in the middle of the hall and all inside is warm, while outside the wintry storms of rain and snow are raging; and a sparrow flies swiftly through the hall. It enters in at one door and quickly flies out through the other. For the few moments it is inside, the storm and wintry tempest cannot touch it, but after the briefest moment of calm, it flits from your sight, out of the wintry storm and into it again. So this life of man appears but for a moment; what follows or indeed what went before, we know not at all. If this new doctrine brings us more certain information, it seems right that we should accept it.” Other elders and counsellors of the king continued in the same manner, being divinely prompted to do so.

a) To distract his audience from a discussion of religion by talking instead about nature
b) To demonstrate that he is already impacted by Christianity
c) To link the expansive concept of faith to a relatable situation
d) To make a comparison between winter and death

Answer 1

The answer is B in this question

Answer 2

c) To link the expansive concept of faith to a relatable situation

Step-by-step explanation:

When the counselor talks about the winter, he talks about a sparrow that flies in and out of the hall, but during the tiny moment inside the hall, the sparrow can't be touched by the storm outside.

This is a metaphor for man, and how short their life is. The counselor states if Christianity can give answers to life, then they should try it out.