Yamanba of the Mountain

Question

by Cathy Spagnoli

No one spoke. Even the bravest men and women were silent. Everyone had helped to make the mochi, but no one wanted to face that frightful yamanba.

Finally, a small woman stepped up. "I'm the oldest here," she said. "I've lived a good life, and I'm ready to die if I must. I will go and try."

Voices suddenly wrapped round her, thanking her again and again. Two young men who knew the mountain were chosen to guide her, and they all set off the next day. Higher and higher and higher they climbed. Soon, the wind howled and pushed against them.

"We can't take anymore," cried the two men as the wind bounced them around. "Have courage!" the old woman shouted, clinging to a pine tree. But when the wind finally died down, the old woman couldn't find the men. They had run away.

"Yamanba of the Mountain" from Asian Tales and Tellers by Cathy Spagnoli © 1998 Cathy Spagnoli, published 1998 by August House, Inc.

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Question
Use the passage to answer the question

What is the effect of the author’s use of figurative language in this passage?

(1 point)
Responses

It emphasizes how important being brave is to characters in this cultural setting.
It emphasizes how important being brave is to characters in this cultural setting.

It explains why mountains play such a significant role in the cultural setting.
It explains why mountains play such a significant role in the cultural setting.

It reveals the importance of gender in the cultural context of the story.
It reveals the importance of gender in the cultural context of the story.

It helps the reader understand the cultural context behind the men’s decision to run away.

Answer 1

The effect of the author’s use of figurative language in this passage primarily serves to emphasize how important being brave is to the characters in this cultural setting. By depicting the intense challenges faced by the old woman and the fear exhibited by the younger men, the author highlights the theme of courage and the struggle against fear in a context where bravery is highly valued. Therefore, the correct response is:

It emphasizes how important being brave is to characters in this cultural setting.