Question

read the excerpt from the metamorphoses by ovid. deucalion soothes pyrrha with these gentle words, and says, ... the oracles are just, and advise no sacrilege. the earth is the great mother; i suspect that the stones in the body of the earth are the bones meant; these we are ordered to throw behind our backs. although she, descended from titan, is moved by this interpretation of her husband, still her hope is involved in doubt; so much do they both distrust the advice of heaven; but what harm will it do to try? read the excerpt from the adaptation the flood by james baldwin. what did he mean? asked pyrrha. surely i do not know, said deucalion. but let us think a moment. who is our mother, if it is not the earth, from whom all living things have sprung? and yet what could he mean by the bones of our mother? how does the adaptation differ from the original? in ovids original, the tone is playful, while in baldwins adaptation, the tone is confident. in baldwins adaptation, the tone is lighthearted, while in ovids original, the tone is serious. in ovids original, the characters have more respect for the deity, while in baldwins adaptation, the characters are rude to the deities. in baldwins adaptation, the characters are unsure of the advice, while in ovids original, characters follow the advice without question.

Explanation:

In Ovid's excerpt, Deucalion seems to have some understanding and is trying to soothe Pyrrha about the oracle's advice, and they are contemplating the action. In Baldwin's adaptation, both characters are clearly unsure about the meaning of the advice. The other options about tone and respect for deities are not supported by the given excerpts.

Answer:

In Baldwin's adaptation, the characters are unsure of the advice, while in Ovid's original, characters follow the advice without question.