Question
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold. And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold: And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the seaWhen the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green. Why does the speaker compare the Assyrian soldiers to "the leaves of the forest"?
1The green, leafy trees of summer symbolize peace, and the leafless trees of autumn symbolize war.
2. The Assyrian soldiers travel on foot through forestswhile their enemies travel by boat "like stars on the sea."
3The Assyrian soldiers, like summer leaves, were numerous in the beginning, but by the next day had fallen as leaves do in autur
4The soldiers wear green uniforms in summer to help them blend into the forest, but in autumn, when the leaves have turned brow they wear brown uniforms
Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green. Why does the speaker compare the Assyrian soldiers to "the leaves of the forest"?
1The green, leafy trees of summer symbolize peace, and the leafless trees of autumn symbolize war.
2. The Assyrian soldiers travel on foot through forestswhile their enemies travel by boat "like stars on the sea."
3The Assyrian soldiers, like summer leaves, were numerous in the beginning, but by the next day had fallen as leaves do in autur
4The soldiers wear green uniforms in summer to help them blend into the forest, but in autumn, when the leaves have turned brow they wear brown uniforms
Answers
GPT 3.5
I would say that option 3 is the most accurate interpretation of the comparison between the Assyrian soldiers and the leaves of the forest. The speaker is highlighting the mass numbers of the soldiers, similar to the abundance of leaves in summer. However, just as leaves fall in autumn, the soldiers also fall the next day, implying their impending defeat or downfall.