What is the meaning of this simile?
“. . . a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot out from the crevice. . . “
A. Light from the lantern lit up all the cobwebs in the room.
B. The light from the lantern was so slight that it was like a single thread spun by a spider.
C. Opening the lantern let spiders swarm the room.
D. The patterns in the light from the lantern resembled spider webs.
B. The light from the lantern was so slight that it was like a single thread spun by a spider.
B. The light from the lantern was so slight that it was like a single thread spun by a spider.
To understand the meaning of this simile, let's break it down:
Simile: A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the simile is comparing the light from the lantern to the thread of a spider.
“. . . a single dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot out from the crevice. . . “
Meaning: The simile is used to describe the quality or characteristic of the light that is coming out of the crevice. The comparison suggests that the light is very thin and barely noticeable, similar to a spider's thread.
Now, let's look at the options and determine the correct meaning:
A. Light from the lantern lit up all the cobwebs in the room.
This option does not accurately represent the meaning of the simile. There is no mention of cobwebs in the simile itself.
B. The light from the lantern was so slight that it was like a single thread spun by a spider.
This option correctly represents the meaning of the simile. It reflects the idea that the light is very faint and thin, like a spider's thread.
C. Opening the lantern let spiders swarm the room.
This option is not related to the meaning of the simile. It describes a different outcome that is not mentioned in the simile.
D. The patterns in the light from the lantern resembled spider webs.
This option is not an accurate representation of the meaning of the simile. It focuses on the patterns in the light, rather than the quality or intensity of the light itself.
Therefore, the correct answer is B. The light from the lantern was so slight that it was like a single thread spun by a spider.