Question

figurative language
excerpt from free love
by henry david thoreau
my love must be as free
as is the eagles wing,
hovering oer land and sea
and everything.
i must not dim my eye
in thy saloon,
i must not leave my sky
and nightly moon.
be not the fowlers net
which stays my flight.
and craftily is set
t allure the sight.
how is the simile used in lines 1 and 2?
a to emphasize the importance of love
b to show love should not tie you down
c to highlight the connection
d to reveal the meaning of love
what is the meaning of the metaphor in line 9?
a he is asking for his love not to trap him.
b he is hoping his love will build him a home.
c he wants his love to set him free to roam.
d he needs his love to be constantly with him.
short answer: what do you think the poet is trying to communicate about love?

Explanation:

1. For the first question about the simile in lines 1 and 2:

• A simile is a comparison using "as" or "like". Here, "My love must be as free As is the eagle's wing". The eagle's wing is free - hovering over land and sea. So, it implies that love should be free (not tie you down).

1. For the second question about the metaphor in line 9 ("Be not the fowler's net Which stays my flight"):

• A fowler's net traps. So, the metaphor means not to trap (the flight represents freedom).

Answer:

1. B. to show love should not tie you down
2. A. He is asking for his love not to trap him.