Question

read the source of the allusion. in william goldings 1954 novel lord of the flies, a group of schoolboys survive a plane crash on a remote island and separate into violent, warring factions. what is the meaning of the allusion in the sentence below? when i left, the kittens were all peacefully sleeping on my bed. when i returned, it was lord of the flies. a reversal of prior circumstances a barbarous rivalry the status quo

Explanation:

1. First, recall the source of the allusion: In Lord of the Flies, the boys form violent, warring factions.
2. Analyze the sentence: Before leaving, kittens were peaceful; upon return, the situation is likened to Lord of the Flies.
3. Evaluate options:

• "a reversal of prior circumstances" is too general (the allusion focuses on the violent rivalry, not just change).
• "a barbarous rivalry" matches the novel's depiction of violent factions, implying the kittens (or the scene) now have chaotic, hostile behavior like the boys in the novel.
• "the status quo" is incorrect as the situation changed from peaceful to chaotic.

Answer:

a barbarous rivalry