The movement of the cortege between motionless lines of grenadiers like red walls
A simile is used in the presentation of the movement of the cortege between the motionless lines of grenadiers to red walls. This comparison enables imagery and makes the story more appealing and interesting.
The fear of the war of attrition “like the pit of hell”
The fear of the war of attrition is brought out through the use of a simile. When the writer compares this fear to that of the pit of hell, the reader is able to perceive just how deep and profound this fear is.
The substitution of a heavily one-sided right wing that swept across Belgium “like a monstrous hayrake”
As a result of Schlieffen’s lack of enough partitions to enable the two-fold envelopment of a France à la Cannae. The subdivision of Belgium is said to “sweep down through the country like a monstrous hayrake.” This simile plays the role of enabling imagery.
The division of Foch’s mind “like a heart”
The writer brings out Foch’s mind as having two valves “like a heart,” one valve for pumping spirit into strategy and the other for circulating common sense. This evaluation enables imagery.
The imagery of Joffre “like Santa Claus”
The imagery of Joffre is brought out through vivid descriptions: “massive and paunchy in his baggy uniform” with a “nearly white mustache and bushy eyebrows.” The imagery is further enhanced through the use of a simile in which Joffre’s appearance is compared to that of Santa Claus.
