Question

(id2.05 mcq) read the excerpt from act ii, scene i of julius caesar. then answer the question that follows. brutus: since cassius first did whet me against caesar, i have not slept. between the acting of a dreadful thing and the first motion, all the interim is like a phantasma or a hideous dream. the genius and the mortal instruments are then in council, and the state of man, like to a little kingdom, suffers then the nature of an insurrection. which statement best explains the figurative language in the bolded line? o the use of allusion references greek mythology and compares a myth to a nightmare. o the use of meiosis understates brutuss dilemma, making his decision seem easy. o the use of metaphor compares the appearance of the ghost of pompey to a nightmare. o the use of simile shows that not knowing what to do is making life a nightmare for brutus.

Explanation:

• Simile: A simile uses "like" or "as" to compare two different things. In the line "Like a phantasma or a hideous dream", "like" is used to compare the "interim" (the period between the first motion and action) to a phantasma or a hideous dream. This shows that not knowing what to do (the interim) is making life a nightmare (comparing it to a dream/phantasma which are often associated with disturbing or confusing images, like a nightmare).
• Metaphor: A metaphor directly states one thing is another without "like" or "as". There is no such direct comparison in the context of the bolded line for the metaphor option given (the option about comparing the appearance of the ghost to a nightmare - the bolded line is about the interim, not a ghost).
• Meiosis: Meiosis is an understatement. The bolded line is a comparison (simile), not an understatement of Brutus's dilemma.
• Allusion: An allusion is a reference to a well - known thing (like Greek mythology). The bolded line does not reference Greek mythology.

Answer:

The use of simile shows that not knowing what to do is making life a nightmare for Brutus.