Question

review the passage. the simile is shown in bold.

her immobility before me was clearly expectant, and my part was to speak for my brother from the realm of forgetful shade. i was deeply moved at my responsibility and at her distress. i would have given anything for the power to soothe her frail soul, tormenting itself in its invincible ignorance like a small bird beating about the cruel wires of a cage. nothing easier than to say, \have no fear!\ nothing more difficult. how does one kill fear, i wonder? how do you shoot a spectre through the heart, slash off its spectral head, take it by its spectral throat?

from joseph conrad, lord jim

what is the effect of the simile on the passage’s meaning or tone?

it contributes to a remorseful tone.

it contributes to a fearful tone.

it contributes to a pitying tone.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the simile: "tormenting itself in its invincible ignorance like a small bird beating about the cruel wires of a cage". The small bird in a cage beating against wires conveys a sense of helplessness and suffering.
2. Evaluate the tone options:

• "Remorseful" implies regret, but the simile focuses on the woman's distressed soul, not regret.
• "Fearful" focuses on fear, but the simile's imagery is more about pity for the suffering (the bird's struggle, the woman's frail soul).
• "Pitying" matches the narrator's feeling of being "deeply moved" by her distress and wanting to soothe her, as the simile evokes sympathy for the trapped, struggling entity (the bird, her soul).

Answer:

It contributes to a pitying tone.