Question

"As the Sicilian bull, which first bellowed with the cries of him--and that was right---who had tempered it with his file, used to bellow with the voice of the afflicted one, so that, though made of brass, still it seemed transfixed with pain"

Answer 1

The text involves themes of mythological punishment and human suffering, with references to various forms of anguish and terror depicted through the metaphor of bellowing and cries.

Step-by-step explanation:

The provided text makes reference to ancient rituals and mythology, as well as to experiences of intense suffering and madness. The reference to the Sicilian bull invokes a historical method of torture, where the victim's cries were heard as the bellowing of the bull. The text seems to focus on the themes of punishment, transformation, sacrifice, and the cruelty inherent in these myths and practices. In the passages, the act of bellowing is used metaphorically to express the anguish and terror of people subjected to extreme situations, whether it's through mythological punishments handed down by deities or the horrors of war and personal suffering. These passages are used to evoke the sensory experiences of hearing the cries, bellowing, and other sounds that connote pain and fear. The vivid descriptions aim to immerse the reader in the scenes, creating a palpable sense of emotion and atmosphere.