Final answer:
The simile 'like an eagle swooping down on its prey' describes a swift, precise, and effective action, often used to create vivid imagery and liken the subject to an eagle's powerful hunting capabilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The simile “like an eagle swooping down on its prey” is a literary device used to compare a person’s sudden or swift action to the rapid, focused descent of an eagle towards its target. It conveys a sense of precision, speed, and effectiveness. Eagles are known for their excellent hunting skills, and the phrase indicates that the subject possesses similar attributes when pursuing a goal. This simile can add vivid imagery to a narrative, offering a powerful visualization of a character's actions.
For instance, in the context of the references provided, descriptions of a bird in flight such as “suddenly she spread her brown wings for flight, and soared into the air” or “rises, and comes close at last, and goes by the landmark pine with steady sweep of wing” utilize bird imagery to illustrate the power and grace of motion. Moreover, this comparison can also be found in literature to depict fierce combat or competitive situations, as well as in the saying “as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion” which implies a significant difference in strength or ability between two entities.