Question

Read this excerpt below from Chapter 7 and answer the question. Nwoye knew that Ikemefuna had been killed, and something seemed to give way inside him, like the snapping of a tightened bow. What is the PROBABLE connotation of the underlined words in this excerpt? Nwoye feels like he is going to faint. Nwoye is deeply saddened by Ikemefuna’s death, and he rejects the custom of the clan that decreed his murder. Nwoye is depressed at the news of Ikemefuna’s death, but he accepts all the custom of his clan. Nwoye is upset that his father took part in the killing.

Answer 1

The likely connotation of the underlined words might be Nwoye is depressed at the news of Ikemefuna’s death, but he accepts all the custom of his clan.

We can assume this because it seems that although he is sad because of the death, he felt inside like he has to deal with it and carry on, owing to the fact that are traditions that he has to respect. This can be considered as a metaphor when is using the tightened bow.