Question #N780

The author uses several rhetorical devices to create a powerful and memorable image of the speaker’s grief in the passage. For instance, the author uses vivid imagery to describe the speaker’s tears as “falling like rain” and emphasizes the speaker’s sense of isolation by comparing the speaker’s feelings to “a lonely, desolate place.” What is the author’s purpose in using the metaphor of a “lonely, desolate place” to describe the speaker’s grief?

The author uses the metaphor of a “lonely, desolate place” to
A. create a sense of empathy for the speaker.
B. describe the speaker’s physical surroundings.
C. emphasize the speaker’s emotional state.
D. suggest that the speaker is in danger.

Correct Answer is: C

The metaphor of a “lonely, desolate place” is used to emphasize the speaker’s emotional state, which is characterized by grief and isolation. The author is not simply describing the speaker’s surroundings; instead, the author is using the metaphor to create a powerful image of the speaker’s internal feelings.