Question

Which of the following best analyzes the extended metaphor in the poem?
A. In the first stanza of the poem, the fields of cotton are compared to a flock of sheep, helping readers visualize them.
B. In the second stanza of the poem, October is compared to Aladdin because of its powers of enchantment, adding a mood of mystery.
C. Across the poem, seasons and months are compared to things in nature, dramatically unifying the poem; specifically, summer is compared to a flock of sheep, October to red trees, and November to a sunset.
D. Across the poem, seasons and months are compared to prominent people, dramatically unifying the poem; specifically, summer is compared to a weakened queen, October to a king, and November to a conqueror.

Answer 1

C

Explanation: An extended metaphor runs across the whole poem, comparing months/seasons to natural things and thus unifying the poem’s images (summer → flock of sheep, October → red trees, November → sunset). Options A and B are limited to a single stanza or image, and D misreads the comparisons as people rather than natural imagery.