Question

he dead leaves are varnished With color like blood, What effect does the author want this simile to have on the reader? A) The simile is merely descriptive and has no connotative effects: the leaves are red. B) The simile is meant to evoke wonder and awe at the power and youth of the young child in the poem. Eliminate C) The author wants to create a feeling of joy in the reader at the beautiful, bright colors of autumn leaves. D) The simile is meant to evoke horror in the reader; the autumn leaves are red--but not just any red, the red blood of a murdered child.

Answer 1

I don't know the context, but D, "The Simile is meant to evoke horror in the reader; the autumn leaves are red--but not just any red, the red blood of a murdered child." seems to be the correct answer.

Answer 2

The correct answer is D) The simile is meant to evoke horror in the reader; the autumn leaves are red--but not just any red, the red blood of a murdered child.

The effect that the author wanted this simile to have on the reader is "The simile is meant to evoke horror in the reader; the autumn leaves are red--but not just any red, the red blood of a murdered child."

This is the poem:

The old moon is tarnished

With smoke of the flood,

The dead leaves are varnished

With color like blood,

A treacherous smiler 5

With teeth white as milk,

A savage beguiler

In sheathings of silk,

The sea creeps to pillage,

She leaps on her prey; 10

A child of the village

Was murdered to-day.

She came up to meet him

In a smooth golden cloak,

She choked him and beat him 15

To death, for a joke.

Her bright locks were tangled,

She shouted for joy,

With one hand she strangled

A strong little boy. 20

Now in silence she lingers

Beside him all night

To wash her long fingers

In silvery light.

We are referring to the poem "Sea Lullaby," written by Elinor Wylie (1885-1928). She was an American author that was so talented to write poems. Her life had an obscure side because she married several times and had many affairs that tarnished her public life.